U.N., Individual Nations Respond To Ebola Outbreak With Warnings, Precautionary Evacuations

The U.N., U.S., U.K., E.U., and some Asian nations have taken measures to help African nations contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak and protect their own borders.

Devex: WHO on Ebola outbreak: We need more health workers
“The World Health Organization desperately needs to boost the ranks of health workers responding to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa to prevent or reduce incidents of them becoming infected, as has happened already with several doctors and at least one aid worker. Aid groups are struggling to deal with the outbreak, which started in Guinea-Conakry and has now spread to neighboring Sierra Leone and Liberia…” (Ravelo, 7/30).

Reuters: WHO advises no flight restrictions, low risk from Ebola: IATA
“The World Health Organization is not recommending any travel restrictions or border closures due to the Ebola outbreak and there would be a low risk to other passengers if an Ebola patient flew, the airlines association IATA said on Thursday…” (7/31).

U.N. News Centre: U.N. health agency moves to allay mounting fears over Ebola spread
“The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today advised that while travelers should be aware of Ebola, they will not contract the highly contagious, often fatal disease unless they actually touch someone who is showing active symptoms…” (7/30).

Reuters: White House says Ebola outbreak won’t alter U.S.-Africa summit
“An outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa will not change a summit in Washington next week that about 50 African leaders are expected to attend, a White House spokesman said on Wednesday…” (7/30).

Roll Call: CDC Ramps Up Ebola Response
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expanded its monitoring of the possible transmission of the deadly Ebola virus to travelers arriving from West Africa. CQ Roll Call’s Tom Curry reports that the CDC has issued a Health Alert Notice to doctors and nurses to inquire about travel histories of people who have recent traveled to West Africa…” (Jenks, 7/30).

ABC News: Peace Corps Pulling Volunteers From Ebola-Affected Countries
“The U.S. Peace Corps is removing all personnel from countries where the Ebola virus has broken out and has placed two of its volunteers in isolation, program officials said today…” (Mohney, 7/30).

Associated Press: Peace Corps evacuates over Ebola as 2 isolated
“The largest recorded Ebola outbreak in history has led the U.S. Peace Corps to evacuate hundreds of volunteers from three affected West African countries, and a State Department official on Wednesday said two volunteers were under isolation after having contact with a person who later died of the virus…” (Paye-Layleh, 7/30).

USA TODAY: Peace Corps pulls volunteers over Ebola outbreak
“The Peace Corps announced Wednesday that it was temporarily withdrawing its 340 volunteers in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone after two workers were exposed to the Ebola virus…” (Hjelmgaard/Stanglin, 7/30).

Associated Press: U.K. holds crisis meeting on Ebola; warns of threat
“British officials held a crisis meeting Wednesday and warned of a potentially serious threat if the deadly Ebola virus spreads further. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said there are no known cases in Britain, but that the incurable disease is viewed by the government as a possibly serious danger…” (7/30).

Wall Street Journal: EU gives €2 Million to Fight Ebola Outbreak in West Africa
“The European Union said Wednesday it is allocating €2 million to fight the spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa, with the money going to support the World Health Organization, Doctors Without Borders, and the International Committee of the Red Cross…” (Ask, 7/30).

Agence France-Presse: World Ebola fears grow with Europe and Asia on alert
“Fears that the West African Ebola outbreak could spread to other continents grew with European and Asian countries on alert and a leading medical charity warning the epidemic was out of control…” (Millard, 7/31).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

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