Ebola still spreading in western Sierra Leone, Guinea's forest: U.N
GENEVA
(Reuters) - More foreign health workers are needed to help tackle the Ebola epidemic, which is spreading quickly in western Sierra Leone and deep in the forested interior of Guinea, a senior U.N. official said on Tuesday.
The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has risen to 6,331 in the three worst hit countries, with Sierra Leone overtaking Liberia as the country with the highest number of cases, the World Health Organization says.
"We know the outbreak is still flaming strongly in western Sierra Leone and some parts of the interior of Guinea. We can't rest, we have to still push on," said David Nabarro, the U.N. Special Envoy on Ebola.
More treatment centers are opening in Sierra Leone but they need additional trained staff, he told a news briefing.
"We don't yet have the full number of functioning treatment centers and places where people who are ill can be kept away from others," he said.
"We are anticipating several hundred beds to come on stream in the next few weeks, and that will lead to the situation calming down."
The deadly virus is spreading especially in Sierra Leone's capital Freetown and Port Loko, where a more intense response is needed, said Nabarro, a veteran public health expert.
"Although I hate predictions, I am at least confident that unless something goes radically wrong we will see an improvement there (in Freetown). It's a bit like what Monrovia was like 4 to 6 weeks ago and I think that it will certainly calm down."
The rise in the spread of Ebola in western Sierra Leone reflects the fact that tribal-led communities have yet to fully accept the outbreak and take action to avoid infection, he said.
"There are reports coming through of places where people who are sick, staying at home and perhaps infecting their families."
The second "particularly troublesome" area is the northern part of Guinea's interior, a region known as Guinea Forestiere where the epidemic began nearly a year ago, Nabarro said.
"We have been working very closely with Mali to try to make sure if cases perchance cross the border that they can be dealt with very quickly."
Mali has reported eight Ebola cases, six fatal, to date.
(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/09/us-health-ebola-who-idUSKBN0JM24X20141209
Structure of the Lead：
WHO-a senior U.N. official
WHEN-
WHAT-
WHY-
WHERE-
HOW-not given
Keywords：
1. tackle：阻截
2. interior：內部
3. toll：傷亡人數
4. veteran：經驗豐富的
5. radically：根本
6. perchance：或許
It is really a terrible news.And I am also sad to hear that so many people died in Ebola.All the countries around the world try hard to prevent the epidemic from spreading,but it looks ineffective.The high contagious disease still claims thousands of people's lives so far.I hope the whole world can quickly find out how to treat the fatal epidemic or stop it from spreading around the globe.Blessing the patients can strive to survive the hard time.
回覆刪除Since the fatal virus, Ebola outbreak in West Africa, it has caused whole world become panic. For it is difficult to recover once you get it, I think that we humanity should work together to fight the dangerous epidemic. Countries and organizations which have superior medical facilities should help the backward countries and those who don't have enough money to buy sanitation products. Meanwhile, send the doctors and researchers to find out the treatment and soon get control of the virus spreading region. Thanks to those health care workers, who risk their life in such a dangerous situation. Hope that the toll of Ebola can get control and the antibody of Ebola can come out soon.
回覆刪除I think Ebola is very horrible. People infected with Ebola won't die immediately, however, they will have a fever, headache, and other symptoms. Then they will bleeding, and finally dead. Many people won't notice that they have infected with he virus at first, it is too late until they discover it. This virus is not only infectious but also fatal, people who suffer from it will die and no medicine can cure it. Since Ebola is infect by contacting with the infected bodily fluids or secretions, we should be careful, and wash our hands frequently to prevent us from getting Ebola virus.
回覆刪除