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GENEVA. — The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday said in a statement that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is unprecedented in many ways, including the high proportion of doctors, nurses, and other health care workers who have been infected.
To date, over 240 health care workers have developed the disease in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, and more than 120 have died.
WHO said the deadly virus has taken the lives of prominent doctors in Sierra Leone and Liberia, depriving these countries not only of experienced and dedicated medical care but also of inspiring national heroes.

WHO noted shortages of personal protective equipment or its improper use, far too few medical staff for such a large outbreak, and the compassion that causes medical staff to work in isolation wards far beyond the number of hours recommended as safe contributed to the high proportion of infected medical staff.

WHO said capital cities as well as remote rural areas are affected, vastly increased opportunities for undiagnosed cases to have contact with hospital staff.— Xinhua.