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Ebola crisis: WHO signals help for Africa to stop spread Ebola crisis: WHO signals help for Africa to stop spread
(35 minutes later)
The World Health Organization is to "ramp up" efforts to prevent Ebola spreading beyond the three countries most affected by the deadly virus.The World Health Organization is to "ramp up" efforts to prevent Ebola spreading beyond the three countries most affected by the deadly virus.
Fifteen African countries are being prioritised, top WHO official Isabelle Nuttall told a Geneva news conference.Fifteen African countries are being prioritised, top WHO official Isabelle Nuttall told a Geneva news conference.
They will receive more help in areas including prevention and protection.They will receive more help in areas including prevention and protection.
US public health officials are being questioned at a congressional hearing on perceived failings in how the US has dealt with cases. But former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has said he is "bitterly disappointed" with the international community's response.
In an interview with the BBC's Newsnight programme, Mr Annan said richer countries should have moved faster.
"If the crisis had hit some other region it probably would have been handled very differently.
"In fact when you look at the evolution of the crisis, the international community really woke up when the disease got to America and Europe. And yet we should have known that in this interconnected world it was only a matter of time."
'Spike''Spike'
The transmission of the Ebola virus remains intense in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the WHO's Dr Nuttall said. In Geneva, the WHO's Dr Nutall said the transmission of the Ebola virus remained intense in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea - the three countries at the centre of the Ebola outbreak.
There was a "spike" in the Guinean capital, Conakry, said Dr Nuttall, and "intense transmission" in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. There was a "spike" in the Guinean capital, Conakry, she said, and "intense transmission" in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone.
In the Liberian capital, Monrovia, she spoke of "significant underreporting" and problems with data-gathering making it hard to reach firm conclusions. But there was a drop in the number of cases in Lofa district.In the Liberian capital, Monrovia, she spoke of "significant underreporting" and problems with data-gathering making it hard to reach firm conclusions. But there was a drop in the number of cases in Lofa district.
Overall, cases were doubling every four weeks, said Dr Nuttall, the WHO's Director of Global Capacities Alerts and Response, and the death toll was expected to go above 4,500 this week. Overall, cases were doubling every four weeks, said Dr Nuttall, the WHO's Director of Global Capacities, Alerts and Response, and the death toll was expected to go above 4,500 this week.
Countries in the region must be prepared, she said, listing Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Mauritania, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Togo.Countries in the region must be prepared, she said, listing Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Mauritania, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Togo.
She highlighted four nations directly bordering the worst affected area - Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Senegal.She highlighted four nations directly bordering the worst affected area - Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Senegal.
"We will ramp up our support to the countries. We will work with them on a plan. But a plan needs to be changed into action." "We will ramp up our support to the countries. We will work with them on a plan."
Action will include:Action will include:
In another development, the European Union is to examine whether exit screening at West African airports is effective.In another development, the European Union is to examine whether exit screening at West African airports is effective.
EU health ministers also agreed to try to co-ordinate measures taken at EU airports. Some countries, such as the UK, have introduced screening.EU health ministers also agreed to try to co-ordinate measures taken at EU airports. Some countries, such as the UK, have introduced screening.
Texas nurse US hearing
In the United States, questions are being asked about why two nurses who treated an Ebola patient from Africa have themselves become infected.In the United States, questions are being asked about why two nurses who treated an Ebola patient from Africa have themselves become infected.
Thomas Eric Duncan died at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital after arriving in the US from Liberia.Thomas Eric Duncan died at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital after arriving in the US from Liberia.
Nurses Nina Pham and Amber Vinson both contracted Ebola after treating him.Nurses Nina Pham and Amber Vinson both 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, officials say.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, officials say.
Amber Vinson was allowed to take a commercial flight after treating him and officials have been contacting the 132 people who flew with her.Amber Vinson was allowed to take a commercial flight after treating him and officials have been contacting the 132 people who flew with her.
A congressional panel has been grilling health officials on how the US is dealing with Ebola cases.
Daniel Varga, the chief clinical officer for the company that runs the Texas hospital, told the congressional hearing "we are deeply sorry" for the "mistakes made" in the way Mr Duncan's case was handled.Daniel Varga, the chief clinical officer for the company that runs the Texas hospital, told the congressional hearing "we are deeply sorry" for the "mistakes made" in the way Mr Duncan's case was handled.
Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Tim Murphy told the hearing "the American public loses confidence each day" in the ability of health authorities to deal with the virus. The panel's chairman, Tim Murphy, told the hearing "the American public loses confidence each day" in the ability of health authorities to deal with the virus.
He also cast doubt on airport screening, saying those with a fever could avoid it.He also cast doubt on airport screening, saying those with a fever could avoid it.
But in his opening statement, Centers for Disease Control Director Tom Frieden said everything was being done to prevent transmission of Ebola.But in his opening statement, Centers for Disease Control Director Tom Frieden said everything was being done to prevent transmission of Ebola.
"There are no shortcuts. Everyone has to do their part. We are there to support. We are there with world-class expertise to protect Americans.""There are no shortcuts. Everyone has to do their part. We are there to support. We are there with world-class expertise to protect Americans."
In other developments on Thursday:In other developments on Thursday:
How not to catch Ebola:How not to catch Ebola:
Ebola basics: What you need to knowEbola basics: What you need to know
How Ebola attacksHow Ebola attacks
Ebola: Mapping the outbreakEbola: 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 sayHave 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.