WHO declares Ebola outbreak public health emergency

GENEVA, August 8 (Itar-Tass) - The World Health Organisation on Friday declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa an international public health emergency. The Ebola outbreak constitutes "a public health risk to other states," a WHO emergency committee said in a statement. "The possible consequences of further international spread are particularly serious in view of the virulence of the virus, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the weak health systems in the currently affected and most at-risk countries," the committee said. The WHO also said a general ban on international travel and trade was not necessary. As of August 4, more than 1,700 Ebola cases, including 932 deaths, were reported in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. The current Ebola outbreak began in Guinea in March and later spread to Sierra Leone and Liberia. There is no licensed treatment or vaccine for Ebola and the death rate has been about 50%. Learn more on itar-tass.com