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EU increases funding to contain Ebola outbreak in W. Africa

Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Humanitarian
Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Humanitarian
BRUSSELS, July 30 (KUNA) -- The European Commission announced here Wednesday the allocation of an additional 2 million Euro to respond to the worst Ebola outbreak ever recorded.
This brings the EU aid to fight the Ebola epidemic in West Africa to 3.9 million Euro, said Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid in a statement.
"The level of contamination on the ground is extremely worrying and we need to scale up our action before many more lives are lost," she said.
She noted that the additional EU funding will help contain the spread of the epidemic and provide immediate healthcare to the affected communities.
The Ebola epidemic is taking a devastating toll in the three affected countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. To date, the outbreak has seen 1,200 cases and 670 deaths, including many health workers.
A case has also been confirmed in Lagos (Nigeria), where a patient died on 26 July.
According to the WHO, this is the largest recorded outbreak in terms of cases, deaths and geographical coverage.
The risk of the virus spreading to Europe is currently low, since most cases are in remote areas in the affected countries and those who are ill or in contact with the disease are encouraged to remain isolated.
To date no cases have been detected among returning travellers from West Africa to Europe, said the statement. (end) nk.hs