WHO News:

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Unprecedented number of medical staff infected with Ebola
The outbreak of Ebola virus disease in west Africa is unprecedented in many ways, including
the high proportion of doctors, nurses, and other health care workers who have been infected.

To date, more than 240 health care workers have developed the disease in Guinea, Liberia,
Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, and more than 120 have died.

WHO-deployed health worker receiving care after testing positive for Ebola


WHO is working to ensure an international health worker who is deployed for the
Organization in Sierra Leone and has contracted Ebola receives the best care possible
including the option of medical evacuation to another care facility if necessary.

Why the Ebola outbreak has been underestimated
The magnitude of the Ebola outbreak, especially in Liberia and Sierra Leone, has been
underestimated for a number of reasons.

Many families hide infected loved ones in their homes. As Ebola has no cure, some believe
infected loved ones will be more comfortable dying at home.

Anecdotal evidence about experimental Ebola therapies
Clinicians working in Liberia have informed WHO that 2 doctors and 1 nurse have now
received the experimental Ebola therapy, ZMapp.

The nurse and one of the doctors show a marked improvement. The condition of the second
doctor is serious but has improved somewhat.

Ebola situation in Nigeria and Guinea: encouraging signs
The outbreak of Ebola virus disease in west Africa continues to evolve, with cases confirmed
in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. At present, no cases have been confirmed
anywhere else in the world outside these 4 countries.

The situation in Lagos, Nigeria, where the first imported case was detected in July, looks
reassuring. At present, the citys 12 confirmed cases are all part of a single chain of
transmission. Those infected by the initial case include medical staff involved in his
treatment, a patient in the same hospital, and a protocol officer in very close contact with the
patient.