WHO, Countries to Introduce $100 Million Ebola Plan

By Phil Serafino

The World Health Organization and the nations of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia plan a strengthened, $100 million plan to bring the West African outbreak of Ebola under control.
Margaret Chan, the WHO’s director general, will meet in Guinea tomorrow with the presidents of the three countries, the WHO said in an e-mailed statement today.
Increased resources, in-country medical expertise, regional preparedness and coordination are needed, according to the WHO, the Geneva-based United Nations health agency. The outbreak, the worst ever of the viral illness, has killed 729 people this year.

“The scale of the Ebola outbreak, and the persistent threat it poses, requires WHO and Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to take the response to a new level,” Chan said in the statement. “The countries have identified what they need, and WHO is reaching out to the international community to drive the response plan forward.”