2014-09-09 15:38:00

WHO spokesperson warns Ebola epidemic is still racing ahead


(Vatican Radio) The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Ebola is spreading exponentially through the worst hit countries in West Africa, especially Liberia, with thousands of new cases expected over the next three weeks.  The WHO said conventional methods to control the outbreak were not having an adequate impact.

Nkya Alexander is a spokesperson for the WHO based in Sierra Leone.  She told Susy Hodges that in many areas of the affected nations, the Ebola epidemic is racing ahead of efforts to contain it and more international support is desperately needed. 

 

Listen to the full interview with Nkya Alexander of the World Health Organization: 

 

Alexander said the Ebola virus is still racing ahead in West Africa and huge challenges need to be faced to get it under control. 

“If you look at the number of new cases, if you look at the difficulties of setting up new treatment centres, of finding  sufficient doctors and nurses who are ready to work in those centres, you can see and say that we’re absolutely not ahead of the virus yet but we’re all working together in order to get to that point.”

When it comes to attitudes of fear, ignorance and mistrust about Ebola shown by many people in the affected countries, Alexander said these attitudes “are changing in some communities but it’s not the story everywhere.”   She also pointed out that it’s very easy for us to judge”  from the outside because we’re not in that frightening situation ourselves.  

She said more specialized support from the international community is urgently needed but at the same time they need to be certain that the facilities in West Africa  are “secure”, especially for medical staff who are most at risk of catching the disease.   Unfortunately, she warned, “we’re still months away” from our final goal of “zero Ebola cases.” 








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