NEW YORK, July 29 (RIA Novosti) – A West African outbreak of Ebola that has already claimed some 650 lives is not over yet, Dr Steve Monroe from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Monday.
“This is the largest Ebola outbreak in history and the first in West Africa. It’s a rapidly changing situation and we expect that there will be more cases in these countries in the coming weeks and months,” said Dr Steve Monroe, a deputy director of infectious diseases.
“The response to this outbreak will be more a marathon than a sprint. If we ever needed a reminder that we all live in a connected world – this horrific Ebola outbreak in West Africa is it.”
Dr Monroe said a lack of resources hampered efforts in disease-stricken countries. Some Ebola victims do not seek treatment because they do not trust government workers or doctors, he added.
The outbreak began in southern Guinea in February and spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. It has infected 1,201 people and killed 672. Most border crossings in Liberia have been closed; Nigeria is on red alert after a Liberian man died of Ebola upon arrival at Lagos airport last week.
