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Ebola crisis: WHO says major outbreak in West 'unlikely' | Ebola crisis: WHO says major outbreak in West 'unlikely' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A major outbreak of Ebola in the US and elsewhere in the West is unlikely given the strong health systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. | A major outbreak of Ebola in the US and elsewhere in the West is unlikely given the strong health systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. |
US President Barack Obama also said the risk of Americans getting the virus was "extremely low", although he ordered a "much more aggressive response". | US President Barack Obama also said the risk of Americans getting the virus was "extremely low", although he ordered a "much more aggressive response". |
The US is investigating how a nurse infected when treating a victim in Texas was allowed to travel on a plane. | The US is investigating how a nurse infected when treating a victim in Texas was allowed to travel on a plane. |
Officials are trying to trace the 132 people who flew with Amber Vinson. | Officials are trying to trace the 132 people who flew with Amber Vinson. |
The disease has killed about 4,500 people so far, mostly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. | The disease has killed about 4,500 people so far, mostly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. |
EU health ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss the crisis, including increased screening of travellers and the possibility of sending more troops to West Africa to help contain the virus. | EU health ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss the crisis, including increased screening of travellers and the possibility of sending more troops to West Africa to help contain the virus. |
Meanwhile, US federal health officials will appear before a congressional committee on Thursday to answer questions about their handling of the crisis. | Meanwhile, US federal health officials will appear before a congressional committee on Thursday to answer questions about their handling of the crisis. |
'Very low' | 'Very low' |
Christopher Dye, WHO director of strategy, said the introduction of Ebola into the US or other countries in Western Europe was a matter "for very serious concern". | Christopher Dye, WHO director of strategy, said the introduction of Ebola into the US or other countries in Western Europe was a matter "for very serious concern". |
"The possibility that once an infection has been introduced that it spreads elsewhere, is something that everybody is going to be concerned about," he said. | "The possibility that once an infection has been introduced that it spreads elsewhere, is something that everybody is going to be concerned about," he said. |
But he added: "We're confident that in North America and Western Europe where health systems are very strong, that we're unlikely to see a major outbreak in any of those places." | But he added: "We're confident that in North America and Western Europe where health systems are very strong, that we're unlikely to see a major outbreak in any of those places." |
Earlier, President Obama said the likelihood of a widespread Ebola outbreak was "very, very low". | Earlier, President Obama said the likelihood of a widespread Ebola outbreak was "very, very low". |
New US Ebola control measures | New US Ebola control measures |
Could it spread around US? | Could it spread around US? |
Confusing death figures | Confusing death figures |
However, he promised a "much more aggressive" monitoring of Ebola cases in the US. | However, he promised a "much more aggressive" monitoring of Ebola cases in the US. |
Britain, Canada and the US have introduced increased screening of travellers arriving at airports from West Africa. | Britain, Canada and the US have introduced increased screening of travellers arriving at airports from West Africa. |
France said on Wednesday that it would begin checks from Saturday on passengers arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport from the Guinean capital, Conakry. | France said on Wednesday that it would begin checks from Saturday on passengers arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport from the Guinean capital, Conakry. |
Nurse allowed to travel | Nurse allowed to travel |
US health officials are facing new questions about the response to Ebola infections in Texas. | US health officials are facing new questions about the response to Ebola infections in Texas. |
Liberian Thomas Eric Duncan was treated at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital but died of the disease. | Liberian Thomas Eric Duncan was treated at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital but died of the disease. |
Two nurses, Nina Pham and Amber Vinson, contracted Ebola after treating him. | Two nurses, Nina Pham and Amber Vinson, contracted Ebola after treating him. |
Both wore face shields, hazardous materials suits and protective footwear as they drew blood and dealt with Mr Duncan's body fluids and it remains unclear how they were infected. | Both wore face shields, hazardous materials suits and protective footwear as they drew blood and dealt with Mr Duncan's body fluids and it remains unclear how they were infected. |
Ms Vinson later contacted the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to inform it she was travelling on a plane on Monday - Frontier Airlines Flight 1143 from Cleveland to Dallas-Fort Worth. | Ms Vinson later contacted the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to inform it she was travelling on a plane on Monday - Frontier Airlines Flight 1143 from Cleveland to Dallas-Fort Worth. |
She reported a temperature of 37.5C (99.5F). | She reported a temperature of 37.5C (99.5F). |
CDC director Thomas Frieden said she should not have travelled on a commercial flight. | CDC director Thomas Frieden said she should not have travelled on a commercial flight. |
US media reaction | US media reaction |
However, another health official told the New York Times later that Ms Vinson was not prevented from flying because the temperature was mildly elevated and was in a category not covered by the CDC. | However, another health official told the New York Times later that Ms Vinson was not prevented from flying because the temperature was mildly elevated and was in a category not covered by the CDC. |
"I don't think we actually said she could fly, but they didn't tell her she couldn't fly," the official told the Times. "She called us... I really think this one is on us." | "I don't think we actually said she could fly, but they didn't tell her she couldn't fly," the official told the Times. "She called us... I really think this one is on us." |
Officials are trying to trace all 132 passengers but insist that as Ms Vinson did not have a fever, the risk to "any around that individual on the plane would have been extremely low". | Officials are trying to trace all 132 passengers but insist that as Ms Vinson did not have a fever, the risk to "any around that individual on the plane would have been extremely low". |
Ms Vinson has now been transferred to Emory University hospital in Atlanta. | Ms Vinson has now been transferred to Emory University hospital in Atlanta. |
Mr Duncan, who was the first person to be diagnosed in the US with Ebola, started showing symptoms of the disease days after he arrived in Texas from Liberia. | Mr Duncan, who was the first person to be diagnosed in the US with Ebola, started showing symptoms of the disease days after he arrived in Texas from Liberia. |
In other developments on Thursday: | |
Ebola patients treated outside West Africa* | Ebola patients treated outside West Africa* |
How not to catch Ebola: | How not to catch Ebola: |
Ebola basics: What you need to know | Ebola basics: What you need to know |
How Ebola attacks | How Ebola attacks |
Ebola: Mapping the outbreak | Ebola: Mapping the outbreak |
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Have your say | Have your say |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. |