Ebola Outbreak

Mobile text messages, also known as SMS, are helping to prevent the spread of Ebola in West Africa.

Close to 5000 people have died from the virus since last March, and more than 10,000 have been infected.

The most recent SMS campaign took place in Senegal when the government sent 4 million mobile messages to warn of the dangers of Ebola after one reported case, which was quickly isolated.

The platform they used is called mHealth, created by the World Health Organization (WHO), which initially intended to help people manage diabetes.

The international community must “get ahead” of the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa

According to the head of the UN Mission for Ebola Response Emergency Response (UNMEER).

Anthony Banbury, who is based in Ghana has recently toured the three most affected countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone where around 5000 people have died from the haemorrhagic virus.

Mr Banbury said more resources are needed to reach people who are in remote rural areas to which health workers don’t yet have access.

Thousands of people are being screened for the deadly Ebola virus at South Sudan’s main airports to ensure the country stays free of the disease, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.

Around 4,000 people entering South Sudan through Juba International Airport and Wau Airport are being tested each week; no cases have yet been detected.

So far, 5000 people have died from Ebola in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

The first phase of fighting the Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa was an enormous success but harder challenges lie ahead, according to a Swedish professor working with the Liberian Ministry of Health.

Hans Rosling says he spent 20 years studying epidemics, and when the Ebola outbreak hit he immediately asked how he could assist.

So far, 5000 people have died from Ebola in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Professor Rosling arrived two weeks ago, and plans on staying until the situation improves.

The Ebola crisis in West Africa continues to claim lives despite the international effort led by the United Nations to contain the outbreak.

Almost 5000 people have died, although the figure could be higher due to unreported cases.

In Liberia, the virus is not only stretching health facilities to the limit, it’s also severely affected the economy.

Grace Barrett reports on efforts by the UN Development Programme to help Liberians get healthy and get back to work.

Duration: 3’39”

Over a million people in the three West African countries most affected by Ebola have received food aid by the World Food Programme or WFP.

The agency is ramping up services to the whole humanitarian effort in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Executive Director, Ertharin Cousin said their goal is that “no person goes hungry” while being treated.

Nearly 5,000 people have died and more than 13,000 people have been infected with the virus across these countries.

The Ebola virus disease will “absolutely” be defeated, according to the Head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response, UNMEER.

Anthony Banbury was visiting Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia this week to witness first-hand the challenging dynamics of the Ebola outbreak unfolding in West Africa.

Around 5000 people have died since March and more than 10,000 have been infected.

Stephanie Coutrix reports.

Duration: 2'17"

Data from mobile phone records can be used in the fight against the Ebola disease outbreak in West Africa, according to the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Around five thousand people have died from the virus over the last six months, mainly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Organizations dealing with information and communication technologies are currently meeting in Busan, South Korea.

A small village in Guinea is going down in history as “ground zero” for the Ebola epidemic.

The virus is believed to have started in the densely-forested area of Meliandou, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The area borders Sierra Leone and Liberia, two other West African countries where the outbreak has been described as “persistent and widespread”.

Jocelyne Sambira reports.

Duration: 2'44"

Efforts are ongoing to develop vaccines for the deadly Ebola virus disease which has claimed more than 4, 500 lives in West Africa.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are at least 9,000 Ebola cases in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

There is concern around the world that the virus may spread from West Africa to other countries as people travel by air.

Derrick Mbatha reports.

Duration:  2'29"