US tries to calm fears as Ebola virus spreads
National security adviser says spread of deadly virus “grave concern” after two American aid workers develop infection.
Aljazeera.com
29 Jul 2014
US health officials are monitoring the Ebola outbreak in Africa but say the risk of the deadly disease spreading to the US is remote.
The Centres for Disease Control on Monday sent a health alert to US doctors about the outbreak. There are no travel restrictions to the West Africa region hit by the disease, The Associated Press reported.
But last month, the CDC issued a mid-level travel advisory for health workers.
Susan Rice, US national security adviser, said in a televised interview on Monday the outbreak was of “grave concern”.
“We are very much present and active in trying to help the countries of the region and the international authorities like the World Health Organisation address and contain this threat. But it is indeed a very worrying epidemic,” Rice told MSNBC News.
Two American aid workers in Liberia have contracted the Ebola virus and it has killed the Liberian husband of an American woman who said he could have easily brought the disease home to the US.
The family of Patrick Sawyer, who died on July 24, recently returned to the US for a visit. The CDC said they were not affected.
Officials stressed people are not contagious until they show symptoms, and the Sawyer’s family left Liberia days before he fell ill.
Sawyer, a consultant for Liberia’s Finance Ministry in his 40s, collapsed on arrival at Lagos airport.
He was put in isolation at the First Consultants Hospital in Obalende, one of the most crowded parts of a city that is home to 21 million people.
Nigeria on alert
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