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$1bn needed to fight Ebola virus: UN

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IANS United Nations

Over one billion dollars are needed to fight the West Africa Ebola outbreak - a tenfold increase in the past month, the UN's Ebola coordinator has said.

David Nabarro made the announcement as the World Health Organisation (WHO) described the health crisis as "unparalleled in modern times", BBC reported Tuesday.

The disease has left 2,461 people killed this year, half of the 4,985 infected by the virus, the global health body said.

US President Barack Obama is due to announce plans to send 3,000 troops to Liberia, one of countries worst-affected by the outbreak, to help fight the virus. It is understood the US military will oversee building new treatment centres and help train medical staff.

 

The outbreak, which began in Guinea, later spread to its neighbours Sierra Leone and Liberia. Nigeria and Senegal have reported some cases, but seem to have contained the transmission of the virus.

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First Published: Sep 16 2014 | 7:38 PM IST

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