Ebola virus more terrifying than terrorism

ZURICH—Nearly 3,000 people have died from the current
outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa and the situation
has continued to deteriorate in some areas, the World Health
Organization said.
The United Nations' health agency said in a report dated
Wednesday that 2,917 people had likely died from the disease
as of Sept. 21, 2014. A total of 6,263 people had confirmed,
suspected or probable cases of the disease. ( Ebola Latest:
Obama Says World Falling Short in Response)
The disease, which causes a high fever and internal bleeding,
is considered to be widespread in three of the region's
countries —Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, the WHO said.
There is localized transmission in Nigeria and Senegal.
The situation in Sierra Leone has continued to deteriorate
amid a sharp increase in cases in the capital of Freetown, the
agency said, adding that a drop in reported cases in Kailahun
and Kenema required further investigation "to confirm whether
this fall is genuine."
The WHO also challenged a report that no new cases have
been found in the Liberian capital of Monrovia, which had
experienced a surge in the disease in recent weeks. "These
data differ from credible reports obtained from responders in
Liberia, who indicate a deterioration of the situation in the
country, and in Monrovia in particular," the WHO said.
The situation in Guinea appears to have stabilized, but
remains of "grave concern," the agency reported.
The WHO uses official data reported by ministries of health in
the affected countries to compile its statistics.
Write to Andrew Morse at andrew.morse@wsj.com
Nearly 3,000 people have died from the current outbreak of
the Ebola virus in West Africa and the situation has continued
to deteriorate, the World Health Organization said.