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            WHO: Magnitude of Ebola Outbreak 'Vastly' Underestimated

   by VOA News

   The World Health Organization (WHO) is warning that the magnitude of
   the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has been "vastly" underestimated.

   Already 1,069 people have died of Ebola this year in Guinea, Liberia,
   Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Nearly 2,000 have been sickened.

   In a statement Thursday, the U.N. health agency said it is concerned
   those numbers do not reflect the true gravity of the situation.

   The WHO said it expects the outbreak to continue "for some time,"
   noting its response plan extends "over the next several months."

   There is no known cure or vaccine for Ebola, though a WHO panel this
   week backed plans to give some patients unproven drugs to fight the
   virus.
   A limited supply of an untested, U.S.-produced drug, known as ZMapp,
   arrived Wednesday in Liberia, where it will be given to two doctors.

   Officials there must now decide who will else receive the remaining
   doses of the drug, supplies of which could take months to refill.

   Meanwhile, President Barack Obama stressed the U.S. is committed to
   working with West African countries to help contain the outbreak.

   The White House said Obama underscored his commitment on separate phone
   calls Thursday to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and
   President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone.

   He also expressed condolences for those who had died from the virus.

   Earlier Thursday, the U.S. ordered the departure of eligible family
   members of staff at the U.S. embassy in Sierra Leone's capital,
   Freetown.

   State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the step was taken out of
   an "abundance of caution."

   She said medical officials had determined that the Ebola outbreak had
   resulted in a lack of options for routine health care services at major
   medical facilities.

   In another development, another airline has suspended flights to Africa
   as the Ebola outbreak continues to grow.

   Korean Air Lines said Thursday it will temporarily stop flights to and
   from Kenya's capital, Nairobi, in what it called a measure to stop
   Ebola from spreading.

   No Ebola cases have been reported in Kenya, but WHO has classified the
   east African country as a high risk area for the disease because of its
   role as a major transport hub.

   Earlier, British Airways and the Middle Eastern airline Emirates
   suspended service to parts of West Africa in response to the Ebola
   outbreak.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/who-magnitude-of-ebola-outbreak-vastly-underestimated/2414165.html