Africa

Why Ebola Is Not A Threat To The U.S.

1:50pm October 04, 2014

Ebola has come to the United States. NPR's Scott Simon talks to physician and infectious disease specialist Kent Sepkowitz about the CDC's handling of Ebola, and why Americans are in little danger.

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Dr. Joseph Fair, an American virologist, has worked in Sierra Leone for more than a decade.

Health & Safety

A Virologist Takes You Inside The Ebola Protective Suit

7:03am October 04, 2014

by NPR Staff

Virus hunter Joseph Fair speaks about the needs and challenges ahead for containing the outbreak, and why he thinks things will get worse before they get better.

A girl cries outside an Ebola treatment center in Monrovia in late September. Both her parents died in the Ebola outbreak.

After Losing Parents To Ebola, Orphans Face Stigma

6:41pm October 03, 2014

by Rae Ellen Bichell

UNICEF estimates that thousands of children in West Africa have lost parents to Ebola. Convincing communities to accept and care for these children isn't always easy.

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Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere, but its senior citizens all benefit from a guaranteed pension.

Norway Is Great For Older Folks — And So Are Bolivia And Rwanda

3:11pm October 03, 2014

by Roff Smith

In a survey of 96 countries on how their over-60 citizens fare, some rankings were completely predictable: Norway was first and Afghanistan was last. In between, there are a number of surprises.

Secondary students learn about Ebola during an assembly in Abuja. Nigeria's schools have reopened after being closed to prevent the spread of the disease.

A Glimmer Of Hope: Nigeria May Have Beaten Ebola

12:37pm October 03, 2014

by Linda Poon

In the midst of worldwide panic over Ebola, Africa's most populous nation has started to celebrate. Nigeria's outbreak began in July, and now the country is on the verge of victory.

Liberia, U.S. Hospital Both Say Ebola Patient Lied About Exposure

11:31am October 03, 2014

by Scott Neuman

African officials say they will prosecute Thomas Eric Duncan for failing to disclose at the airport his contact with an Ebola patient — a fact the hospital treating him said also was hidden from them.

A man diagnosed with the Ebola virus this week is being treated at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. The patient recently traveled to Dallas from Liberia.

Officials: 100 'Potential Contacts' Linked To Dallas Ebola Patient

8:34pm October 02, 2014

by Scott Neuman

Texas health officials say that "out of an abundance of caution, we're starting with this very wide net," and that it's very unlikely that anyone on the list will develop Ebola.

A health official uses a handheld infrared thermometer on a passenger arriving at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Nigeria.

Why A Thermometer Is A Good Tool For Airport Ebola Screenings

3:30pm October 02, 2014

by Eleanor Klibanoff

With ear probes, infrared cameras and laser beams pointed at passengers' foreheads, airports around the world are trying to stop infected travelers before they board a plane.

With exponential growth, the numbers can get big, quickly.

A Frightening Curve: How Fast Is The Ebola Outbreak Growing?

1:34pm October 02, 2014

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Health leaders now say the Ebola epidemic is growing exponentially. That means, if nothing changes in the next few weeks, we could see at least 60,000 Ebola cases by the end of 2014.

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Health & Safety

U.S. Liberian Communities Face A New Set Of Worries

10:06am October 02, 2014

by Sam Sanders

Liberians in the Dallas area have been joining together as their home country struggles with Ebola. A man in Dallas is the first Ebola case confirmed in the U.S. He had recently traveled to Liberia.

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