Mali becomes sixth West African nation hit with Ebola

Mali’s health minister says the West African country has confirmed its first case of Ebola. The announcement made on Malian state television Thursday evening by Ousmane Kone said that the patient was a 2-year-old girl who had come from neighboring Guinea. The child was brought to a hospital in the Malian town of Kayes on Wednesday, and her blood sample tested positive for the virus. Mali becomes the sixth West African country to report an Ebola case — though nearly all the cases and deaths have occurred in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

We’re in a race against time on Ebola and we must address both the emergency situation and at the same time have a long-term response.

EU chief Jose Manuel Barroso

Top Ebola experts raised grave concerns Thursday about the worsening epidemic in West Africa as the number of infections soared to almost 10,000 and the death toll edged closer to 4,900. The World Heath Organization said after an emergency meeting on the deadly haemorrhagic fever that the situation in the worst-hit countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone “remains of great concern” as cases increase exponentially. The agency’s “70/70” plan aims by December to ensure 70 per cent of people infected by Ebola are placed in medical isolation, and, given that dead bodies can spread the virus, to ensure 70 per cent of burials are conducted safely.

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