Ebola Threatens International Peace, Security, WHO, U.S. Officials Warn

News outlets highlight comments by WHO Director-General Margaret Chan and U.S. officials warning the Ebola epidemic threatens international security.

Associated Press: WHO: Ebola is modern era’s worst health emergency
“The World Health Organization called the Ebola outbreak ‘the most severe, acute health emergency seen in modern times’ on Monday but also said that economic disruptions can be curbed if people are adequately informed to prevent irrational moves to dodge infection…” (Gomez, 10/13).

Bloomberg News: Ebola’s Toll Threatens Security in Interconnected World
“As the Ebola virus spreads in and beyond Africa, it’s raising the possibility of a global pandemic that U.S. intelligence agencies have warned is among the greatest potential threats to global security…” (Gaouette, 10/14).

Financial Times: Ebola virus threatens state failure, World Health Organization warns
“The Ebola outbreak is threatening ‘state failure’ in West Africa, the World Health Organization warned, as the U.S. said it needed to overhaul its management of the virus following the infection of an American nurse…” (Jopson, 10/13).

New York Times: WHO Chief Calls Ebola Outbreak a ‘Crisis for International Peace’
“…Dr. Chan, who dealt with the 2009 avian flu pandemic and the SARS outbreaks of 2002-3, said the Ebola outbreak had progressed from a public health crisis to ‘a crisis for international peace and security’…” (Cumming-Bruce, 10/13).

VOA News: WHO: Ebola Threatens States, Societies in W. Africa
“…In a statement to a health conference in the Philippines, Chan warned the number of cases is ‘rising exponentially’ in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, and said the outbreak shows how the world is ill-prepared for a severe and sustained public health emergency…” (10/13).

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