The World Health Organisation (WHO) is establishing a
global response coalition to the Ebola crisis as the spread of the
disease worsens in West Africa.
At a press conference in Geneva,
WHO and UN officials said an unprecedented surge in the response to the
crisis was needed, with the disease now having killed more than 2,470
people out of 4,940 cases in West Africa."Quite frankly, ladies and gentlemen, this health crisis we face is unparalleled in modern times," WHO assistant director-general Dr Bruce Aylward told reporters.
"The gravity of the situation is difficult to get across with just a few numbers."
He said the number of infected and dead had doubled in the past fortnight.
The UN estimates 20,000 people could be infected by the end of the year.
"We don't know where the numbers are going," Dr Aylward said, pointing out that two weeks ago when WHO said it needed the capacity to manage 20,000 cases, "that seemed like a lot."
"That does not seem like a lot today," Dr Aylward said.
The move comes as Australia is expected to announce later today it will increase its aid contribution to combat the health crisis.
Major humanitarian crisis on the cards: UN
Public Health Association chief executive Michael Moore said Australia must improve its aid contribution, which so far has totalled $1 million."We need to assist with aircraft to provide an air bridge so that they can get protective equipment and medication. These are the sorts of things that Australia can do and it's now really time for action," he said.
"So Australia has to wear its share. It has to make sure that it sends the money that the World Health Organisation asks for."
Nearly $1 billion is needed to fight the outbreak, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said, more than doubling the organisation's estimate of less than a month ago.
She warned that "if not dealt with effectively now, Ebola could become a major humanitarian crisis in countries currently affected".
It comes as the United States said it would send 3,000 troops to help tackle the Ebola outbreak as part of a ramped-up response including a major deployment in Liberia, the country where the epidemic is spiralling fastest out of control.
The US response to the crisis includes plans to build 17 treatment centres, train thousands of healthcare workers and establish a military control centre for coordination, US officials told reporters.
The plan will "ensure that the entire international response effort is more effective and helps to scale up to turn the tide in this crisis," a senior administration official said.
The 17 treatment centres will have 100 beds each and be built as soon as possible, an official said.
A site will also be established where military medical personnel will teach some 500 healthcare workers per week for six months or more on how to care for Ebola patients. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-16/who-to-launch-global-response-coalition-to-combat-ebola/5748552
