Today Is November 8th, 2014 Time: 17:03 Hrs. PDT HEADLINE: WHO Says Nearly 5,000 Dead From Ebola In West Africa Transcript: ZURICH--Nearly 5,000 people have died from the Ebola virus disease in the three West African countries at the center of the current Ebola outbreak, the World Health Organization said Friday, with some districts in the countries experiencing a decline in new cases. In an update, the United Nations health agency said 13,241 confirmed, suspected or probable cases of Ebola had been reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the three countries worst hit by the outbreak. A total of 4,950 people have died of Ebola in the three countries, the WHO said. The disease appeared to be declining in some districts of the three countries, the WHO said. But it added that steep rises persist in other districts. Intense transmission in the three most affected countries demands widespread rigorous control measures, the WHO said. Preparedness in unaffected neighboring countries is also critical. Ebola causes high fever and internal bleeding. The disease, which has a 21-day incubation period, spreads via bodily fluids and the bodies of its victims can be contagious. In a separate statement, the WHO said it was against general bans on travel and trade with or quarantines of travelers to Ebola-stricken countries as part of efforts to control the spread of the disease. Such measures can create a false impression of control and may have a detrimental impact on the number of health-care workers volunteering to assist Ebola control or prevention efforts in the affected countries, the WHO said. It added such measures could reduce supplies of food, fuel and medical equipment to countries battling the disease. The WHO said it supported exit screening of people leaving affected countries through international airports and seaports, as well as overland border crossings. The WHO said health-care workers treating Ebola victims were at particular risk of contracting the disease. A total of 549 health-care professionals have been infected with the Ebola virus since the start of the outbreak, including professionals in Spain and the U.S., the WHO said. Of those, 311 have died. Source: nasdaq/article/who-says-nearly-5000-dead-from-ebola-in-west-africa-20141107-00726
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 01:04:55 +0000