Agence France-Presse: Victory against Ebola ‘within our reach’: new U.N. mission chief
“Ending the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history is a difficult task, but it is ‘within our reach,’ the U.N.’s new mission chief on the disease said, warning that the world has no choice but to beat back the infection…” (1/4).

BBC News: Ebola outbreak will end in 2015 — U.N.’s Anthony Banbury
“The deadly Ebola outbreak will be ended in 2015, the outgoing head of the U.N. team fighting the disease has said. Anthony Banbury said the number of Ebola cases would be brought down to zero by the close of this year, but admitted that the end was ‘not close’…” (1/2).

Reuters: Ebola fight remains tough but may be won this year: U.N. mission chief
“…A spike of cases in Sierra Leone meant UNMEER missed its target of ensuring that by early December 70 percent of all Ebola patients were being treated in isolation units and 70 percent of all those who died from Ebola were buried properly. Banbury said there were now enough functioning treatment centers in the region…” (Kpodo, 1/2).

U.N. News Centre: Outgoing head of U.N. Ebola mission sums up progress in ‘big battle’ with outbreak
“…As Mr. Banbury prepare[d] to hand over the reins of UNMEER to Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on [January 3], he was able to point to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) report on the epidemic, which counted 20,206 confirmed, probable or suspected cases of Ebola and 7,905 reported deaths…” (1/2).

U.N. News Centre: ‘We have no plan B, we have to get rid of this virus’ — new head of U.N. Ebola mission
“…Ould Cheikh Ahmed will be visiting Liberia and Sierra Leone next week, then Guinea shortly after, to reinforce UNMEER’s strategic priorities and see first-hand the Ebola response. He will be accompanied by U.N. Special Envoy on Ebola, Dr. David Nabarro…” (1/3).