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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| WHO: Ebola 'an international emergency' | WHO: Ebola 'an international emergency' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the spread of Ebola in West Africa an international health emergency. | The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the spread of Ebola in West Africa an international health emergency. |
| WHO officials said a coordinated international response was essential to stop and reverse the spread of the virus. | |
| The announcement came after experts convened a two-day emergency meeting in Switzerland. | The announcement came after experts convened a two-day emergency meeting in Switzerland. |
| So far more than 930 people have died from Ebola in West Africa this year. | So far more than 930 people have died from Ebola in West Africa this year. |
| The United Nations health agency said the outbreak was an "extraordinary event". | |
| "The possible consequences of further international spread are particularly serious in view of the virulence of the virus, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the weak health systems in the currently affected and most at-risk countries," it said in a statement. | |
| More than 1,700 cases of Ebola have been reported in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. | |
| The WHO said there would be no general ban on international travel or trade. | The WHO said there would be no general ban on international travel or trade. |
| However, states should be prepared to detect, investigate and manage Ebola cases, including at airports, it said. | However, states should be prepared to detect, investigate and manage Ebola cases, including at airports, it said. |
| Other recommendations include: | |
| There were a number of challenges in affected countries, said the WHO. | |
| These include "very weak health system capacity" and lack of medical staff, laboratory technicians and protective clothing. | |
| But Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's head of health security, said that with the right steps and measures to deal with infected people, Ebola's spread could be stopped. | |
| "This is not a mysterious disease. This is an infectious disease that can be contained," he said. "It is not a virus that is spread through the air." | |
| Prof David Heymann of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the recommendations were "comprehensive and evidence-based". | |
| Ebola virus disease (EVD) | Ebola virus disease (EVD) |
| Are you in West Africa? Have you been affected by the outbreak or the emergency measures? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |