EU calls for global coordination to contain Ebola

Brussels, Aug 16:

The European Union (EU) foreign ministers Friday called for a coordinated international response to contain the spread of the Ebola virus at its council meeting here.

The EU expressed concern about the most severe outbreak of Ebola in West Africa countries, which has killed more than 1,000 people, Xinhua quoted a statement as saying.

The EU took note of the recent decision by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, and pledged its support for the countries concerned to combat the disease.

On Aug 8, the WHO declared that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa constitutes a public health risk.

The EU has committed 11.9 million euros ($15.9 million) assistance to the affected countries through the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department, the statement said.

According to WHO statistics released Thursday, the cumulative number of cases attributed to Ebola virus disease in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone stands at 1,975, including 1,069 deaths.

(IANS)