- WHO has declared the Ebola virus outbreak as a public health emergency and that it poses a risk to other states.
- It provided information regarding the recent developments in the countries with the outbreak, measures to counter it’s spread and existing gaps and challenges in the outbreak response.
- The possible consequences of further spread, its virulence, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and weak health systems in the affected countries are of serious concern.
- This is the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded with over 1700 cases being reported so far, of which 932 have lost their life.
- Challenges in dealing with the disease:
- Inexperience in dealing with Ebola outbreaks.
- Misperceptions of the disease – its transmission.
- High mobility of populations.
- Cross-border movements of infected travelers.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/ebola-outbreak-in-west-africa-is-a-health-risk-to-other-states-who/article6297435.ece