Outbreak 'vastly' underestimated
The World Health Organization said the magnitude of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa has been "vastly" underestimated and extraordinary measures are needed to contain the disease.
The Geneva-based organization said in a statement on Thursday that it was coordinating "a massive scaling up of the international response"in a bid to tackle the worst epidemic of the Ebola virus since its discovery four decades ago.
"Staff at the outbreak sites see evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimate the magnitude of the outbreak,"it said.
The toll has climbed to 1,069, according to WHO, with Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea at the epicenter of the outbreak.
The epidemic claimed a fourth victim in Nigeria on Thursday, while the United States ordered the evacuation of diplomats' families from Sierra Leone and analysts warned of a heavy economic toll on the stricken region.
"The outbreak is expected to continue for some time. WHO's operational response plan extends over the next several months,"the organization warned.
AFP
(China Daily 08/16/2014 page10)
