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Ebola May be Slowing in Liberia, W.H.O. Says Ebola May be Slowing in Liberia, W.H.O. Says
(about 1 hour later)
The World Health Organization said Wednesday that the spread of Ebola may be slowing in Liberia, one of the three West African countries most ravaged by the deadly virus.The World Health Organization said Wednesday that the spread of Ebola may be slowing in Liberia, one of the three West African countries most ravaged by the deadly virus.
Dr. Bruce Aylward, the organization’s assistant director general, in a dial-in news conference from its Geneva offices, said that there had been a drop in the number of burials in Liberia and no increases in laboratory-confirmed cases.Dr. Bruce Aylward, the organization’s assistant director general, in a dial-in news conference from its Geneva offices, said that there had been a drop in the number of burials in Liberia and no increases in laboratory-confirmed cases.
While Dr. Aylward cautioned that it was premature to draw conclusions, and that Ebola cases could rise in Liberia again, he appeared to be optimistic that the global effort to combat the outbreak was making headway.While Dr. Aylward cautioned that it was premature to draw conclusions, and that Ebola cases could rise in Liberia again, he appeared to be optimistic that the global effort to combat the outbreak was making headway.
“Do we feel confident that the response is now getting an upper hand on the virus?” he told reporters. “Yes, we are seeing slowing rate of new cases, very definitely” in Liberia.“Do we feel confident that the response is now getting an upper hand on the virus?” he told reporters. “Yes, we are seeing slowing rate of new cases, very definitely” in Liberia.
He said the organization’s latest figures, to be published later on its website, are 13,703 cases in total, with at least 5,000 deaths. He said the organization’s latest figures, to be published later on its website, are 13,703 cases in total, with at least 5,000 deaths. Nearly all are in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Dr. Aylward’s assertions on Liberia came amid a conspicuously low number of patients and many empty beds at Ebola treatment centers established to handle the caseload. Health officials say they have been confounded by these developments but have said it is too early to celebrate. Dr. Aylward’s assertions on Liberia came amid a conspicuously low number of patients and many empty beds at Ebola treatment centers established in the country to handle the caseload.
Health officials say they have been confounded by these developments.
Dr. Aylward said the apparent improvement in Liberia might be partly attributable to an aggressive effort to establish safe burial practices for victims, who are most contagious at death. He also credited the government with educating people about the risks of contagion. But he also offered serious caveats.
“I am terrified that the information will be misinterpreted and people will start to think, ‘Oh great, this is under control,' ” he said. “That’s like saying your pet tiger is under control. This is a very very dangerous disease.”
Just a few carelessly handled burials, Dr. Aylward said, could “start a whole new transmission chain and the disease starts trending upward again.”
The Ebola virus, which has no confirmed cure, began to spread in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone in March. It is now considered one of the worst global health emergencies in modern times.The Ebola virus, which has no confirmed cure, began to spread in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone in March. It is now considered one of the worst global health emergencies in modern times.
Dr. Margaret Chan, the W.H.O.'s director-general, has spoken in increasingly dire terms about the Ebola outbreak and the need to stop it. She told an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council last month that the outbreak was “likely the greatest peacetime challenge that the United Nations and its agencies have ever faced.”Dr. Margaret Chan, the W.H.O.'s director-general, has spoken in increasingly dire terms about the Ebola outbreak and the need to stop it. She told an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council last month that the outbreak was “likely the greatest peacetime challenge that the United Nations and its agencies have ever faced.”