UN Warns The World Has 60 Days To Get Ebola Under Control

The UN has warned the world has just 60 days to get Ebola under control, or face an “unprecedented situation for which we don’t have a plan”.

A new report issued by the organisation’s health arm, the World Health Organisation, says the virus “is running faster than us and it is winning the race” as it sweeps West Africa and has begun to make its way across the globe.

Speaking at the UN Security Council yesterday, the UN’s deputy Ebola co-ordinator Anthony Banbury outlined critical goals for the December deadline.

“The WHO advises within 60 days we must ensure 70 per cent of infected people are in a care facility and 70 per cent of burials are done without causing further infection,” he said.

It’s the first time the UN has created a mission in response to a public health crisis, warning the goals must be completed or “a lot more people will die”.

Banbury said he was “deeply, deeply concerned” that all of the efforts so far won’t be enough to stop the outbreak.

The warning comes as the number of cases of Ebola has hit the 9000 mark, the deadly virus killing more than half it has affected.

The World Health Organisation says West Africa could see up to 10,000 new Ebola cases a week within two months if the outbreak is not adequately contained.

For the last four weeks, there have been about 1000 new cases per week — including suspected, confirmed and probable cases, he said, adding that the UN health agency is aiming to get 70 per cent of cases isolated within two months to reverse the outbreak. - Herald Sun