Latest Ebola News: Stopping Ebola should be the world’s priority, says Obama

Urging the world to offer a helping-hand in combating Ebola, US President Barack Obama said Thursday that the world is not doing enough to combat the outbreak and that the epidemic needs efforts from countries to end. There is a need to contribute critical assets and capabilities to contain the epidemic, which cannot be achieved by a few nations. ‘In an era, where regional crises can quickly transform into global threats, stopping Ebola should be in the interests of the entire world,’ Obama said at a UN high-level meeting on Ebola, warning that this disease could cause a humanitarian catastrophe across West Africa, reported Xinhua.

He mentioned the areas which need the world’s contribution. Some of them include air transport, medical evacuation, health care workers, equipment and treatment. Obama also called on international organisations to move faster and mobilise partners on the ground and encourage more foundations and businesses to contribute to the fight through their own resources and expertise.

The US has sent 3,000 military personnel to contain the spread of Ebola virus in West Africa and set up a military command in Liberia to support civilian efforts across the region. ‘Stopping Ebola is a priority for the United States,’ Obama said. ‘This must also be a priority for the world.’ More than 2,800 people have been killed by outbreak of the Ebola virus, with the overwhelming majority of the deaths taking place in the three west African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO warned Tuesday that unless Ebola control measures in west Africa are enhanced quickly, more than 20,000 people will have been infected by early November.

Here are some tips prevent Ebola infection

Educate yourself about Ebola: Knowing the symptoms, modes of transmission and preventive measures is the first step to prevent the spread of the disease. This information is especially important for those who are travelling to and from affected areas in West Africa.   (Read: Has the Ebola virus really come to India?)

Maintain sanitary conditions: Basic hygiene plays a very important role in preventing Ebola. The exact way by which the virus enters the body is still debatable but skin and eyes are suggested routes for viral entry. However, food and water may also serve as source of entry. So, simple acts like washing hands before eating and disinfecting surfaces and covering the mouth can help prevent the spread of the virus, especially in areas surrounding the areas of outbreak. Read more about 8 tips to prevent Ebola infection

With inputs from IANS

Photo source: Getty images

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