WHO Says Ebola Fight Deadline Partially Met, More Work Needed

The fight against the Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone is yet to be won, the World Health Organization announced. Whereas the safety of burials has been observed, the current Ebola treatment may still be insufficient.

GENEVA, December 1 (Sputnik) – The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that targeted goals to curb the Ebola outbreak have been partially met in the three worst-hit countries, WHO assistant director-general Bruce Aylward said Monday.

December 1 marks the end of the 60-day period set by the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) in September to achieve its virus containment targets. According to the United Nations, by this date 70 percent of those infected with Ebola should have been receiving treatment and 70 percent of the victims should have been safely buried.

Monday marks 60 days of @UNMEER #EbolaResponse - targets are being met in some areas, but not all. Video: http://t.co/bjY077hSTF

— United Nations (@UN) 1 декабря 2014

"The good news is that in all three countries [Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone] it is clear now that more than 70 percent of the Ebola deaths that we know about are buried safely... In terms of the percentage of cases that we believe are being treated in the Ebola treatment centers or community care centers, we now believe that two of three countries, Liberia and Guinea are currently treating more than 70 percent of the reported cases... But all this progress is not enough to get this thing finished," Aylward said at a press conference in Geneva.

In Guinea and Sierra Leone the number of cases is still increasing due to the poor medical infrastructure, Aylward noted.

The current Ebola outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013, spreading later to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. In October, World Health Organization (WHO) declared Nigeria and Senegal Ebola-free.

According to WHO data released on November 26, 5,689 people have died from the most current Ebola outbreak, with 15,935 of confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of the virus having been reported.