WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak An International Health Emergency

The Ebola scourge currently ravaging in some parts of West Africa has led the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare the epidemic an international health emergency.

The organization said that if the spread of the disease was not checked, the consequences could be serious.

The purpose of the declaration is to raise the level of vigilance as regards the virus as the recent outbreak constitutes an international health risk.

The WHO in a statement said:

"A coordinated international response is deemed essential to stop and reverse the international spread of Ebola,"

"The declaration ... will galvanise the attention of leaders of all countries at the top level. It cannot be done by the ministries of health alone."

The organization's Head of Health Security, Keiji Fukuda stated that the disease could be stopped if the right steps were taken.

He said:

"This is not a mysterious disease. This is an infectious disease that can be contained," "It is not a virus that is spread through the air."

The Ebola virus has claimed over 900 lives in 4 West African countries since this year's outbreak began.