TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that more than 20,000 people are currently at risk of catching the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa or four times of the current number of reported cases, which is estimated to be around 3,000 cases.
"The actual number of cases may actually be two to four times higher than what is currently known and reported," said WHO’s assistant director general Bruce Aylward earlier today, as quoted by the BBC.
The WHO official said there was a real possibility that the current Ebola outbreaks may spread beyond anyone's educated estimation. "According to the UN data, so far 1,552 [people] have died in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria due to the deadly virus," said Aylward.
WHO has estimated that it needs around US$489 million in the next nine months for it to effectively combat the epidemic. On top of that, WHO has also estimated that it needs around 750 international medical staff and 12,000 local medics to stay in West Africa to assist with efforts to control the spread of the outbreak.
ANINGTIAS JATMIKA | BBC
