A UN-sponsored independent report by experts denounced the World Health Organization's slow response to the Ebola crisis on Monday.
"It is still unclear to the panel why early warnings approximately from May through to July 2014 did not result in an effective and adequate response," an interim report by the experts said.
Ebola Set Out On Its Murderous Path in Liberia And Its Neighbors Guinea, Sierra Leone
Liberia will remain alert of threats such as the possibility that someone with Ebola might get into the country under the radar and spread the disease.
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WHO only declared a global public health emergency on August 8 after the outbreak had taken hold in West Africa.
The epidemic has left more than 11,000 dead, mainly in the West African states of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, out of over 26,000 cases.
"There were serious gaps in the early months of the outbreak in terms of engaging with the local communities," the experts said.
![Ebola Death Toll Exceeds 11,000 Mark: World Health Organization]( "Ebola Death Toll Exceeds 11,000 Mark: World Health Organization")
In the three countries worst affected by Ebola - Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea - 26,593 people were infected, and 11,005 have died.
"Given WHO's extensive experience with outbreaks, health promotion and social mobilization, it is surprising that it took until August or September 2014 to recognize that Ebola transmission would be brought under control only when surveillance, community mobilization and the delivery of appropriate healthcare to affected communities were all put in place simultaneously," they said.
"At present, WHO does not have the operational capacity or culture to deliver a full emergency public health response."
The experts' panel is headed by Barbara Stocking, who formerly headed Oxfam.
Source: AFP
"There were serious gaps in the early months of the outbreak in terms of engaging with the local communities," the experts said.
Ebola Death Toll Exceeds 11,000 Mark: World Health Organization
In the three countries worst affected by Ebola - Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea - 26,593 people were infected, and 11,005 have died.
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"Given WHO's extensive experience with outbreaks, health promotion and social mobilization, it is surprising that it took until August or September 2014 to recognize that Ebola transmission would be brought under control only when surveillance, community mobilization and the delivery of appropriate healthcare to affected communities were all put in place simultaneously," they said.
"At present, WHO does not have the operational capacity or culture to deliver a full emergency public health response."
The experts' panel is headed by Barbara Stocking, who formerly headed Oxfam.
Source: AFP
Liberia, a Country That Reported the Highest Number of Deaths, is Now Ebola-Free
It's a huge victory for Liberia that had reported the highest number of deaths in the largest, and most complex outbreak since Ebola first emerged in 1976.
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 Ebola Virus Found in American Doctor's Eye Months After It Vanished from His BloodDr.Ian Crozier had an infection in his eye, swelling and serious vision problems. His iris changed color, going from blue to green. His vision is still not clear. | Advertisement
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