• As the death toll from Ebola is close to 1 000 since the beginning of the outbreak six months ago, WHO declared the epidemic a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). It advised the affected countries to declare a state of emergency and recommends neighbouring countries to take preventative measures. WHO did not, however, impose a travel ban.
Liberian president Johnson Sirleaf has ordered the closure of all but a few key border crossings into and out of Liberia. These crossings, together with the International Airport, will be intensifying the screening of travellers.
• In Sierra Leone and Liberia, security forces have established checkpoints to restrict the movement of people in and out of the most heavily affected areas. There are concerns that this may lead to food shortages and unrest. Guinea has imposed health checks at its borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia. President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a state of emergency in Nigeria, where 11 cases of Ebola have been confirmed.
• ECHO announced the allocation of an additional EUR 8 million to help combat the epidemic. This brings the total allocation to EUR 11.9 million since the outbreak began.
