News Digest

U.S. calls for stronger worldwide response to fight Ebola

Sierra Leone on Thursday took the dramatic step of sealing off districts where more than 1 million people live as it and other West African countries struggle to control the Ebola outbreak that has claimed thousands of lives. With three new districts under quarantine, about one-third of Sierra Leone’s 6 million people are now living in areas where their movements are heavily restricted. An outbreak that began in a remote corner of Guinea has taken hold of much of neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone, killing nearly 3,000 people in just over six months.

We were not prepared for the quarantine overnight. The areas being quarantined are really poor communities…I am expecting starvation to show in three or four weeks unless this is addressed.

Kelfa Kargbo, Sierra Leone director for charity, Street Child

U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday called on more nations to help fight the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, saying hundreds of thousands of lives were at stake. The warning came shortly after the World Health Organisation gave a rare hint of optimism in the West African crisis, announcing that the spread of the disease in Guinea appeared to have stabilised. Senegal and Nigeria have recorded cases but, for now, contained the spread of Ebola. But most experts warn that the number of cases recorded so far represents a fraction of the true total, with many victims unable or unwilling to come forward for treatment. WHO said earlier this week the total number of infections could reach 20,000 by November, months earlier than previously forecast. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned between 550,000 and 1.4 million people might be infected in the region by January if nothing was done.

More nations need to contribute critical assets and capabilities — whether it’s air transport, medical evacuation, health care workers, equipment or treatment.

President Barack Obama