WHO declares Ebola virus ‘health emergency of international concern’ | Global News

WHO declares Ebola virus ‘health emergency of international concern’

By: - NewsLab Lead / @MSantosINQ
/ 05:21 PM August 08, 2014

In this photo taken on Monday, Aug. 4, 2014, a public information board explains the symptoms of the deadly Ebola virus in the city of Freetown, Sierra Leone. The global Ebola outbreak touched American shores more definitively Monday, as Atlanta awaited the arrival of its second Ebola patient by morning, and a New York hospital announced it had isolated a man with possible symptoms who walked into its emergency room. AP

MANILA, Philippines — The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola Virus outbreak in West Africa as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)” in a statement Friday.

“The Ebola outbreak in West Africa constitutes an ‘extraordinary event’ and a public health risk to other States,” WHO said in its statement posted on their website.

Article continues after this advertisement

“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.

FEATURED STORIES

WHO cited the need for “a coordinated international response” in order to stop the further spread of the disease on the international level.

The worst hit countries are Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone with a total of 1,711 cases and 932 deaths as of Aug. 4, 2014.

Article continues after this advertisement

“This is currently the largest Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak ever recorded,” WHO said.

Article continues after this advertisement

“It was the unanimous view of the Committee that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have been met,” it said.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that there were around 10,000 Filipinos in that region and that there were still no reports of Filipinos contracting the disease.

Asked what the process would be in the event a Filipino there contracts the virus, DFA spokesman Charles Jose said: “Just like with our experience with the Middle-east Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus, they will have to be treated there.”

Article continues after this advertisement

RELATED STORIES

Ebola watch: 7 Filipinos from Africa checked daily

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Why isn’t there a treatment or vaccine for Ebola?
 

TAGS: Ebola virus, Health, West Africa, WHO, World Health Organization

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.