- WHO chief warns virus could spread to other countries causing loss of life
- Says that Ebola is moving faster than their efforts to control it
- Added that the response to the virus had been 'woefully inadequate'
- Made the comments at a summit in Guinea to discuss the infection
- Around 700 people have died from the virus so far, with 1,201 reported cases
The World
Health Organisation has warned that the deadly Ebola virus was
spiralling out of control in West Africa and could spread to other
countries causing catastrophic loss of life.
The
warning came from the head of the WHO Margaret Chan who said that the
epidemic was moving faster than their efforts to control it.
Dr
Chan made the stark warning at a regional summit of the leaders of
Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia in the Guinean capital of Conakry,
where she also said the response the virus had been 'woefully
inadequate.'
Medical workers in Sierra Leone wear protective
clothing while treating patients infected with the Ebola virus in Kenema
District
A government worker in Liberia mixes
disinfectant to spray the streets of Monrovia to try and bring the Ebola
virus under control
Dr Margaret Chan arrives at Conakry airport in
Guinea for talks with the leaders of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
about the Ebola virus
She
explained: 'If the situation continues to deteriorate, the consequences
can be catastrophic in terms of lost lives but also severe
socio-economic disruption and a high risk of spread to other countries.
