Ebola Outbreak in Liberia is Getting Seriously Worse,Over 1000 Deaths Reported
Liberia is facing a "serious threat" to its national existence as the
deadly Ebola virus "spreads like wildfire" there, its defence minister
says.
Brownie Samukai told the UN Security Council that the international response to the crisis was "less than robust".
The
World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that thousands more cases
could occur in Liberia, which has been worst hit by the West Africa
outbreak.
Some 2,288 people have died from Ebola in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.read more
The WHO says half of these deaths occurred in the three weeks running up to 6 September.
In Nigeria, eight people have died out of a total 21 cases, while one case has been confirmed in Senegal, with no deaths.
Infected
health workers Mr Samukai warned on Tuesday that the disease was
"devouring everything in its path" in Liberia. The country's weak health
system was already overwhelmed by the number of cases, he said. Mr
Samukai told UN Security Council members that Liberia lacked
"infrastructure, logistical capacity, professional expertise and
financial resources to effectively address this disease". "Liberia is
facing a serious threat to its national existence. The deadly Ebola
virus has caused a disruption of the normal functioning of our state,"
he said. Separately on Tuesday, the UN's envoy in Liberia said that at
least 160 Liberian health workers had contracted the disease and half of
them had died. Karin Landgren described the outbreak as a "latter-day
plague" that was growing exponentially. She added that health workers
were operating without proper protective equipment, training or pay, in
comments to the UN Security Council.
"Liberians are facing their gravest threat since their war," Ms Landgren said. "I don't think anybody can say right now that the international response to the Ebola outbreak is sufficient," US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said after the Security Coun
briefing.

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