Size of Ebola Outbreak ‘Vastly Underestimated,’ WHO Says

News outlets report on the most recent Ebola statistics compiled by the WHO, as well as the WHO’s assessment that the outbreak in West Africa is likely “vastly underestimated.”

Al Jazeera: WHO: Ebola outbreak vastly underestimated
“Though more than 1,000 people have died in the world’s worst ever outbreak, the U.N. now says that number may be higher…” (8/15).

CNN: WHO: Evidence shows Ebola crisis ‘vastly’ underestimated
“The magnitude of the Ebola crisis in West Africa is ‘vastly’ underestimated, the World Health Organization warned this week, as the death toll steadily climbed. Ebola has infected at least 2,127 people in Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone since the outbreak began this year. Of the victims, 1,145 have died, according to the WHO. It said the number reflects the count as of Wednesday…” (Karimi, 8/15).

NPR: Ebola Numbers Vastly Underestimate Reach Of Outbreak, WHO Says
“The official count of Ebola cases and deaths may ‘vastly underestimate the magnitude of the outbreak,’ the World Health Organization posted on its website. The latest numbers from the WHO are 1,975 cases — with 1,069 deaths — from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone…” (Farrington, 8/14).

Reuters: Evidence suggests Ebola toll vastly underestimated: WHO
“Staff with the World Health Organization battling an Ebola outbreak in West Africa see evidence the numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimates the scale of the outbreak, the U.N. agency said on its website on Thursday…” (Samb, 8/15).

Reuters: Death toll from Ebola outbreak hits 1,145 in West Africa: WHO
“The death toll from the worst ever outbreak of Ebola has risen to 1,145, the World Health Organization said on Friday, as 76 new deaths were reported in the two days to August 13 in the four West African nations affected by the epidemic…” (Flynn, 8/15).

Reuters: Nigeria now has 12 Ebola cases, 5 recovered
“Nigeria has 12 confirmed cases of the Ebola virus, up from 10 at last week’s count, the health ministry said on Monday, of which five have almost fully recovered…” (8/18).

U.N. News Centre: Ebola: cases, deaths ‘vastly underestimated,’ says U.N. health agency
“Health workers at Ebola outbreak sites are seeing evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimate the magnitude of the crisis as they work around the clock to stop the disease from spreading, according to the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO)…” (8/15).

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