Top UN Ebola official says new cases are poorly tracked

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The U.N.’s top Ebola official in West Africa says authorities are having trouble figuring out how many more people are getting Ebola in Liberia and in Sierra Leone — and pinpointing the hot spots in those countries. And he says that’s standing in the way of efforts to get control of the outbreak.

Experts say the key to stopping Ebola is tracing and isolating those who’ve had contact with patients or victims. And health care workers can’t do that if they don’t know where the new cases are emerging.

Anthony Banbury visited the three most affected countries last week. He said it’s “heartbreaking” to see families torn apart by Ebola as they struggle to care for sick loved ones while also hoping to avoid infection.

Meanwhile, the president of the World Bank says the three countries need at least 5,000 more health workers in order to effectively fight the epidemic.

%@AP Links

123-c-20-(Kyle McKinnon, correspondent)-“Ebola-related travel restrictions”-Correspondent Kyle McKinnon reports the head of the World Bank is calling for at least 5,000 more healthcare workers to help those stricken by Ebola in West Africa. (28 Oct 2014)

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131-a-15-(Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, with reporters)-“the United States (second reference)”-U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power says the U.S. is dealing with the disease for the first time within its own borders. (28 Oct 2014)

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