ML Strategies Update David Leiter,
[email protected] ML Strategies, LLC Georgette Spanjich,
[email protected] 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Sarah Mamula,
[email protected] Washington, DC 20004 USA 202 296 3622 202 434 7400 fax FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @MLStrategies www.mlstrategies.com SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 Africa Update Leading the News West Africa Ebola Outbreak On September 10th, the United Nations (U.N.) World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the number of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had doubled over the past week to total 62 cases. Thirty-five of the patients infected with Ebola have died, including seven health care workers. The Ebola outbreak in the DRC is separate from the worsening Ebola crisis in West Africa. All of the cases in the DRC are localized in Jeera country and can all be traced to one initial case that was reported on August 26th. The new statistics for the Ebola outbreak in the DRC were posted here. On September 11th, Liberian Finance Minister Amara Konneh held a press conference on the impacts of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, warning that the country is at war with an enemy that it cannot see. Minister Konneh’s remarks echo those delivered last week by Liberian Defense Minister Brownie Samukai, who cautioned that the Ebola crisis poses a serious threat to Liberia’s national existence. Both ministers reported that the epidemic has disrupted the country’s ability to function normally and put further strains on Liberia’s already weak health care infrastructure. Excerpts from both press conferences were highlighted here.