News for today's 2018

Ebola outbreak in West Africa

7:08 PM Anonymous 0

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa to be an international public health emergency that requires an extraordinary response to stop its spread.<br />
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WHO declared similar emergencies for the swine flu pandemic in 2009 and for polio in May.<br />
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The WHO chief, Dr Margaret Chan, said the announcement on Friday is "a clear call for international solidarity" but acknowledged that many countries would probably not have any Ebola cases.<br />
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"Countries affected to date simply do not have the capacity to manage an outbreak of this size and complexity on their own,'' Chan said at a news conference in Geneva.<br />
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"I urge the international community to provide this support on the most urgent basis possible," she added.<br />
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The agency had convened an expert committee this week to assess the severity of the ongoing epidemic - the largest and longest in history.<br />
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The current outbreak of Ebola began in Guinea in March and has since spread to Sierra Leone and Liberia.<br />
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The WHO said the situation is likely to get worse in the coming months.<br />
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There is no licensed treatment or vaccine for Ebola and the death rate has been about 50 percent.<br />
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Unclear impact<br />
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The impact of the WHO declaration is unclear; the declaration about polio does not yet seem to have slowed the spread of virus.<br />
Stopping the world's worst Ebola outbreak?<br />
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During a WHO meeting last week to reconsider the status of polio, experts noted countries had not yet fully applied the recommendations made in May, that there have been more instances of international spread and that outbreaks have worsened in Pakistan and Cameroon.<br />
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Meanwhile, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a national state of emergency on Friday over the Ebola outbreak in Africa's most populous country.<br />
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He approved 1.9bn naira ($11.6m) of emergency funds to contain Ebola in the country, where seven cases have been confirmed since a man fell sick on arrival from Liberia, two of whom have died.<br />
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In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have already elevated their Ebola response to the highest level and has recommended against travelling to West Africa.<br />
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On Thursday, CDC director Dr Tom Frieden told a Congressional hearing that the current outbreak is set to sicken more people than all previous outbreaks of the disease combined.<br />
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"I don't know what the advantage is of declaring an international emergency," said Dr David Heymann, who directed WHO's response to the SARS outbreak and is now a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.<br />
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"This could bring in more foreign aid but we don't know that yet," he said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa to be an international public health emergency that requi...

Ebola outbreak in west Africa press briefings

11:16 PM Anonymous 0

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Ebola outbreak in west Africa press briefings</h1>
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Video, audio and transcripts from the briefings</h3>
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8 August 2014 press briefing on Ebola outbreak in west Africa by Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, and Dr Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director-General for Health Security, WHO</h4>
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8 April 2014 press briefing by Dr Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director-General, Health Security, and Dr Stéphane Hugonnet, Medical Officer, WHO</h4>
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Health Regulations Emergency Committee Regarding the 2014 Ebola Outbreak </div>
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in West Africa</div>
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Ebola outbreak in west Africa press briefings Video, audio and transcripts from the briefings 8 August 2014 press briefing on Ebol...

Ebola Outbreak in West Africa 'WHO'

11:05 PM Anonymous 0

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WHO Statement on the Meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee Regarding the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa</h1>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The first meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) [IHR (2005)] regarding the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD, or “Ebola”) outbreak in West Africa was held by teleconference on Wednesday, 6 August 2014 from 13:00 to 17:30 and on Thursday, 7 August 2014 from 13:00 to 18:30 Geneva time (CET).</span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Members and advisors of the Emergency Committee met by teleconference on both days of the meeting<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; border: 0px; bottom: 0.8ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 9px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">1</span>. The following IHR (2005) States Parties participated in the informational session of the meeting on Wednesday, 6 August 2014: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.</span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the informational session, the WHO Secretariat provided an update on and assessment of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The above-referenced States Parties presented on recent developments in their countries, including measures taken to implement rapid control strategies, and existing gaps and challenges in the outbreak response.</span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After discussion and deliberation on the information provided, the Committee advised that:</span></div>
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<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">the Ebola outbreak in West Africa constitutes an ‘extraordinary event’ and a public health risk to other States;</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">the possible consequences of further international spread are particularly serious in view of the virulence of the virus, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the weak health systems in the currently affected and most at-risk countries.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">a coordinated international response is deemed essential to stop and reverse the international spread of Ebola.</li>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was the unanimous view of the Committee that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have been met.</span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The current EVD outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013. This outbreak now involves transmission in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. As of 4 August 2014, countries have reported 1 711 cases (1 070 confirmed, 436 probable, 205 suspect), including 932 deaths. This is currently the largest EVD outbreak ever recorded. In response to the outbreak, a number of unaffected countries have made a range of travel related advice or recommendations.</span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In light of States Parties’ presentations and subsequent Committee discussions, several challenges were noted for the affected countries:</span></div>
<ul class="disc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">their health systems are fragile with significant deficits in human, financial and material resources, resulting in compromised ability to mount an adequate Ebola outbreak control response;</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">inexperience in dealing with Ebola outbreaks; misperceptions of the disease, including how the disease is transmitted, are common and continue to be a major challenge in some communities;</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">high mobility of populations and several instances of cross-border movement of travellers with infection;</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">several generations of transmission have occurred in the three capital cities of Conakry (Guinea); Monrovia (Liberia); and Freetown (Sierra Leone); and</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">a high number of infections have been identified among health-care workers, highlighting inadequate infection control practices in many facilities.</li>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Committee provided the following advice to the Director-General for her consideration to address the Ebola outbreak in accordance with IHR (2005).</span></div>
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States with Ebola transmission</h3>
<ul class="disc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Head of State should declare a national emergency; personally address the nation to provide information on the situation, the steps being taken to address the outbreak and the critical role of the community in ensuring its rapid control; provide immediate access to emergency financing to initiate and sustain response operations; and ensure all necessary measures are taken to mobilize and remunerate the necessary health care workforce.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Health Ministers and other health leaders should assume a prominent leadership role in coordinating and implementing emergency Ebola response measures, a fundamental aspect of which should be to meet regularly with affected communities and to make site visits to treatment centres.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should activate their national disaster/emergency management mechanisms and establish an emergency operation centre, under the authority of the Head of State, to coordinate support across all partners, and across the information, security, finance and other relevant sectors, to ensure efficient and effective implementation and monitoring of comprehensive Ebola control measures. These measures must include infection prevention and control (IPC), community awareness, surveillance, accurate laboratory diagnostic testing, contact tracing and monitoring, case management, and communication of timely and accurate information among countries. For all infected and high risks areas, similar mechanisms should be established at the state/province and local levels to ensure close coordination across all levels.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should ensure that there is a large-scale and sustained effort to fully engage the community – through local, religious and traditional leaders and healers – so communities play a central role in case identification, contact tracing and risk education; the population should be made fully aware of the benefits of early treatment.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is essential that a strong supply pipeline be established to ensure that sufficient medical commodities, especially personal protective equipment (PPE), are available to those who appropriately need them, including health care workers, laboratory technicians, cleaning staff, burial personnel and others that may come in contact with infected persons or contaminated materials.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">In areas of intense transmission (e.g. the cross border area of Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia), the provision of quality clinical care, and material and psychosocial support for the affected populations should be used as the primary basis for reducing the movement of people, but extraordinary supplemental measures such as quarantine should be used as considered necessary.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should ensure health care workers receive: adequate security measures for their safety and protection; timely payment of salaries and, as appropriate, hazard pay; and appropriate education and training on IPC, including the proper use of PPEs.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should ensure that: treatment centres and reliable diagnostic laboratories are situated as closely as possible to areas of transmission; that these facilities have adequate numbers of trained staff, and sufficient equipment and supplies relative to the caseload; that sufficient security is provided to ensure both the safety of staff and to minimize the risk of premature removal of patients from treatment centres; and that staff are regularly reminded and monitored to ensure compliance with IPC.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should conduct exit screening of all persons at international airports, seaports and major land crossings, for unexplained febrile illness consistent with potential Ebola infection. The exit screening should consist of, at a minimum, a questionnaire, a temperature measurement and, if there is a fever, an assessment of the risk that the fever is caused by EVD. Any person with an illness consistent with EVD should not be allowed to travel unless the travel is part of an appropriate medical evacuation.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">There should be no international travel of Ebola contacts or cases, unless the travel is part of an appropriate medical evacuation. To minimize the risk of international spread of EVD:</li>
<ul class="disc" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 36px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif) 0% 0.5em no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Confirmed cases should immediately be isolated and treated in an Ebola Treatment Centre with no national or international travel until 2 Ebola-specific diagnostic tests conducted at least 48 hours apart are negative;</li>
<li style="background: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif) 0% 0.5em no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Contacts (which do not include properly protected health workers and laboratory staff who have had no unprotected exposure) should be monitored daily, with restricted national travel and no international travel until 21 days after exposure;</li>
<li style="background: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif) 0% 0.5em no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Probable and suspect cases should immediately be isolated and their travel should be restricted in accordance with their classification as either a confirmed case or contact.</li>
</ul>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should ensure funerals and burials are conducted by well-trained personnel, with provision made for the presence of the family and cultural practices, and in accordance with national health regulations, to reduce the risk of Ebola infection. The cross-border movement of the human remains of deceased suspect, probable or confirmed EVD cases should be prohibited unless authorized in accordance with recognized international biosafety provisions.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should ensure that appropriate medical care is available for the crews and staff of airlines operating in the country, and work with the airlines to facilitate and harmonize communications and management regarding symptomatic passengers under the IHR (2005), mechanisms for contact tracing if required and the use of passenger locator records where appropriate.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States with EVD transmission should consider postponing mass gatherings until EVD transmission is interrupted.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="section_head1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
States with a potential or confirmed Ebola Case, and unaffected States with land borders with affected States</h3>
<ul class="disc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unaffected States with land borders adjoining States with Ebola transmission should urgently establish surveillance for clusters of unexplained fever or deaths due to febrile illness; establish access to a qualified diagnostic laboratory for EVD; ensure that health workers are aware of and trained in appropriate IPC procedures; and establish rapid response teams with the capacity to investigate and manage EVD cases and their contacts.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Any State newly detecting a suspect or confirmed Ebola case or contact, or clusters of unexplained deaths due to febrile illness, should treat this as a health emergency, take immediate steps in the first 24 hours to investigate and stop a potential Ebola outbreak by instituting case management, establishing a definitive diagnosis, and undertaking contact tracing and monitoring.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">If Ebola transmission is confirmed to be occurring in the State, the full recommendations for <i>States with Ebola Transmission</i> should be implemented, on either a national or subnational level, depending on the epidemiologic and risk context.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="section_head1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
All States</h3>
<ul class="disc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">There should be no general ban on international travel or trade; restrictions outlined in these recommendations regarding the travel of EVD cases and contacts should be implemented.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should provide travelers to Ebola affected and at-risk areas with relevant information on risks, measures to minimize those risks, and advice for managing a potential exposure.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should be prepared to detect, investigate, and manage Ebola cases; this should include assured access to a qualified diagnostic laboratory for EVD and, where appropriate, the capacity to manage travelers originating from known Ebola-infected areas who arrive at international airports or major land crossing points with unexplained febrile illness.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">The general public should be provided with accurate and relevant information on the Ebola outbreak and measures to reduce the risk of exposure.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should be prepared to facilitate the evacuation and repatriation of nationals (e.g. health workers) who have been exposed to Ebola.</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Committee emphasized the importance of continued support by WHO and other national and international partners towards the effective implementation and monitoring of these recommendations.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Based on this advice, the reports made by affected States Parties and the currently available information, the Director-General accepted the Committee’s assessment and on 8 August 2014 declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The Director-General endorsed the Committee’s advice and issued them as Temporary Recommendations under IHR (2005) to reduce the international spread of Ebola, effective 8 August 2014. The Director-General thanked the Committee Members and Advisors for their advice and requested their reassessment of this situation within 3 months</span></div>

Africa Ebola Ebola Virus Disease Emergency EVD HEALTH healthy hot news Medicare NATIONAL NEWS news South Africa West Africa WHO Ebola Outbreak in West Africa 'WHO'

WHO Statement on the Meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee Regarding the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa ...

THE WAR ON MOTHER NATURE: Africa's Western Black Rhino Has Been Officially Declared Extinct - Africa's Northern White Rhino And Asia's Javan Rhino Are "Teetering On The Brink Of Extinction!

10:15 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: yellow;">November 08, 2013 - AFRICA </span></b>- Africa's western black rhino is now officially extinct according the  latest review of animals and plants by the world's largest conservation  network. <br /><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph2"><br />The subspecies of the  black rhino -- which is classified as "critically endangered" by the  International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/" target="_blank">Red List of Threatened Species</a> -- was last seen in western Africa in 2006.<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--p4UxGpKiJs/UnzTvPZW61I/AAAAAAABNa0/7hkxw09Yvus/s1600/blackrhino01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--p4UxGpKiJs/UnzTvPZW61I/AAAAAAABNa0/7hkxw09Yvus/s1600/blackrhino01.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poaching and lack of conservation have made a subspecies of Africa's black rhino (pictured) extinct. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3"><br />The IUCN warns that other  rhinos could follow saying Africa's northern white rhino is "teetering  on the brink of extinction" while Asia's Javan rhino is "making its last  stand" due to continued poaching and lack of conservation.</div><br />"In the case of the western black rhino and the northern white rhino the  situation could have had very different results if the suggested  conservation measures had been implemented," Simon Stuart, chair of the  IUCN species survival commission said in a statement.<br /><br /><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph6">"These measures must be  strengthened now, specifically managing habitats in order to improve  performance, preventing other rhinos from fading into extinction,"  Stuart added.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph7"><br />The <a href="http://www.iucn.org/" target="_blank">IUCN</a> points to conservation efforts which have paid off for the southern  white rhino subspecies which have seen populations rise from less than  100 at the end of the 19th century to an estimated wild population of  20,000 today.<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2xX3a2TZAqE/UnzT_8CQOQI/AAAAAAABNbE/xZEd9INw4C0/s1600/blackrhino02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2xX3a2TZAqE/UnzT_8CQOQI/AAAAAAABNbE/xZEd9INw4C0/s1600/blackrhino02.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Africa's northern white rhino is "teetering on the brink of extinction" according to the lastest IUCN Red List</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Another success can be seen with the <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/7961/0" target="_blank">Przewalski's Horse</a> which was listed as "extinct in the wild" in 1996 but now, thanks to a  captive breeding program, has an estimated population of 300.<br /><br /><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph10">The latest update to the  IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reviews more than 60,000 species,  concluding that 25% of mammals on the list are at risk of extinction.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph11"><br />Many plants are also under threat, say the IUCN.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph12"><br />Populations of Chinese  fir, a conifer which was once widespread throughout China and Vietnam,  is being threatened by the expansion of intensive agriculture according  to the IUCN.<br /><br /></div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph13"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A9UE7_a2n60/UnzUHvZ0UaI/AAAAAAABNbM/0V80cZC3XaU/s1600/blackrhino03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A9UE7_a2n60/UnzUHvZ0UaI/AAAAAAABNbM/0V80cZC3XaU/s1600/blackrhino03.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In 1996 the  Przewalski's Horse was listed as "extinct in the wild." But thanks to a  captive breeding <br />program its population has risen to around 300, say the  IUCN.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C2Pcztqqky8/UnzUH-Ur40I/AAAAAAABNbQ/Qc30hzymSGY/s1600/blackrhino04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C2Pcztqqky8/UnzUH-Ur40I/AAAAAAABNbQ/Qc30hzymSGY/s1600/blackrhino04.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Coco de Mer has been "uplisted" from vulnerable to endangered due to increased fires<br /> and illegal havesting f its kernels.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WxAV2fY8TKc/UnzUH58E09I/AAAAAAABNbY/yvU0R_C0M30/s1600/blackrhino05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WxAV2fY8TKc/UnzUH58E09I/AAAAAAABNbY/yvU0R_C0M30/s1600/blackrhino05.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summers' poison frog is a recently discovered amphibian which is classified as endangered. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UOlk5uI_o_U/UnzUIb_LoPI/AAAAAAABNbg/v1TTdliQOPg/s1600/blackrhino06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UOlk5uI_o_U/UnzUIb_LoPI/AAAAAAABNbg/v1TTdliQOPg/s1600/blackrhino06.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blessed poison frog is currently listed as vulnerable, say the IUCN.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />A type of yew tree (<a href="http://data.gbif.org/welcome.htm" target="_blank">taxus contorta</a>)  found in Asia which is used to produce Taxol (a chemotherapy drug) has  been reclassified from "vulnerable" to "endangered" on the IUCN Red  List, as has the <a href="http://www.bgci.org/ourwork/coco_de_mer/" target="_blank">Coco de Mer</a> -- a palm tree found in the Seychelles islands -- which is at risk from fires and illegal harvesting of its kernels.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph14"><br />Recent studies of 79  tropical plants in the Indian Ocean archipelago revealed that more than  three quarters of them were at risk of extinction.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph15"><br />In the oceans, the IUCN  reports that five out of eight tuna species are now "threatened" or  "near threatened," while 26 recently-discovered amphibians have been  added to the Red List including the "blessed poison frog" (classified as  vulnerable) while the "summers' poison frog" is endangered.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph16"><br />"This update offers both  good and bad news on the status of many species around the world," Jane  Smart, director of IUCN's global species program said in a statement.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph17"><br />"We have the knowledge  that conservation works if executed in a timely manner, yet, without  strong political will in combination with targeted efforts and  resources, the wonders of nature and the services it provides can be  lost forever." - <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/10/world/africa/rhino-extinct-species-report/index.html?sr=sharebar_facebook"><span style="color: orange;"><b>CNN</b></span></a>.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>

THE WAR ON MOTHER NATURE: Africa's Western Black Rhino Has Been Officially Declared Extinct - Africa's Northern White Rhino And Asia's Javan Rhino Are "Teetering On The Brink Of Extinction!

Africa Asia Endangered Species Extinction IUCN Javan Rhino Mother Nature Natural Habitats Nature Poaching Przewalski's Horse Threatened Species Western Black Rhino White Rhino Wildlife THE WAR ON MOTHER NATURE: Africa's Western Black Rhino Has Been Officially Declared Extinct - Africa's Northern White Rhino And Asia's Javan Rhino Are "Teetering On The Brink Of Extinction!

November 08, 2013 - AFRICA - Africa's western black rhino is now officially extinct according the latest review of animals and plants b...

Video: Humorous ABC News interview with George W. and Laura Bush

8:13 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BJbUXw87j0A" width="560"></iframe> </div><br />President George W. Bush is a gracious man with the wisdom of one who has observed, listened, and learned along his life's journey. This humorous, light-hearted <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJbUXw87j0A">ABC News interview</a> that was taped after the President and Mrs. Bush returned from their African trip shows the genuine, witty, caring personality of #43, something the other side of the political aisle overlooked in their continual bashing of him during his eight years in the White House.<br /><br />Because of GWB's gracious nature, and my observation of years of abuse from his political enemies, I have tempered my own public criticism of President Barack Obama, realizing the hurt it causes not only to the Obama family but to his supporters. Too bad the extremists on all sides of the aisle can't tone down the rhetoric and try to work together.<br /><br />Robin Beres's article in Sunday's Richmond Times-Dispatch, <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/our-opinion/columnists-blogs/robin-beres/the-expanding-legacy-of-george-w-bush/article_b2875325-1bee-520c-879c-2fe7451d64a5.html">"The expanding legacy of George W. Bush,"</a> touched on Bush's just-completed humanitarian trip to Africa, his continued involvement with the Wounded Warrior Project, and his overall giving-back to America during his retirement years:<br /><blockquote>In an interview with CNN on July 1, Bush was questioned about the Obama administration and accusations about the White House’s invasions into Americans’ privacy. But, as ever, he refused to criticize Obama. “I don’t think it does any good,” he said. “It’s a hard job. He’s got plenty on his agenda. It’s difficult. A former president doesn’t need to make it any harder. Other presidents have taken different decisions; that’s mine.”<br /><br />The difference in the two men’s political views has always been apparent. Unfortunately, another difference that is obvious is the content of their characters. Despite attacks and accusations by the Obama administration, Bush has kept his silence.<br /><br />Even as he watched the successful surge in Iraq go for naught and the Middle East fall apart, he said nothing. Even as he stood and listened to Obama’s backhanded compliments at the George W. Bush Presidential Library dedication, he held his peace. He has been the picture of graciousness and tact. These are traits that the self-absorbed Obama should study – and perhaps try to emulate.</blockquote>GWB brought class to the office of President, something he learned from his parents and that is, sadly, lacking in others. His self-deprecating humor is legendary, and his modesty was ingrained by a strong mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, who taught her children not be be "braggadociouses."<br /><br />George W. Bush ... boy, do I miss his leadership.

Video: Humorous ABC News interview with George W. and Laura Bush

ABC News Africa CNN George W. Bush humanitarian mission Laura Bush Presidency Richmond Times-Dispatch Robin Beres White House Video: Humorous ABC News interview with George W. and Laura Bush

President George W. Bush is a gracious man with the wisdom of one who has observed, listened, and learned along his life's journey. Thi...

George W. Bush carries on humanitarian work in Africa

4:40 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBqtra2un3iwzBg5ctWeAPoOH0hCYD91eInC9kohk9L2eXaxtrCehzkS1PoC4MEXLAxTNmudAxke_mXW7Ed1M62AHuGo1FJc4yAjxF7F04LUBJXLLk9WZyY8hyphenhyphenG58YLFeTqLwT8Hx4Euj/s570/George+W.+Bush+33+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBqtra2un3iwzBg5ctWeAPoOH0hCYD91eInC9kohk9L2eXaxtrCehzkS1PoC4MEXLAxTNmudAxke_mXW7Ed1M62AHuGo1FJc4yAjxF7F04LUBJXLLk9WZyY8hyphenhyphenG58YLFeTqLwT8Hx4Euj/s640/George+W.+Bush+33+Africa.jpg" width="538" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmdbAArQL4PgP0QJsWH11CcfA8bQrIJi3bJX0IyO2poeFuMdYZtAIjLo6OGwLchMjBRDtpTC29Bgh2T5McvNy1pAPHLANTq8Rehd8wTs9aLS_Z8wE6u4hzf1neQff5p7KXd5q7chC2nvD/s720/George+W.+Bush+20+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmdbAArQL4PgP0QJsWH11CcfA8bQrIJi3bJX0IyO2poeFuMdYZtAIjLo6OGwLchMjBRDtpTC29Bgh2T5McvNy1pAPHLANTq8Rehd8wTs9aLS_Z8wE6u4hzf1neQff5p7KXd5q7chC2nvD/s400/George+W.+Bush+20+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">After a week of renovating, President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush opened the  Mosi-Oa-Tunya clinic, a cervical cancer facility in Livingstone, Zambia.  <a href="http://www.swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/07/wapost-obama-yet-to-leave-lasting.html">The trip demonstrates their continued commitment</a> to the people of  Africa through the work of the global health initiative at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheBushCenter?fref=ts">George W. Bush Institute</a>. June 30-July 1, 2013 </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-vvODqLSQGgUmSMTZA9ILgndtw2pV3usUIx920eBDgmGqssXsnwssmeP0P9R4UzFdPBOrdgcKKHycLrsACCH-Krcgfm5IRxeelqWD0HOBehrCbvNX8rou_3SY9-vqMnTxrPg0VHhlfQy/s640/George+W.+Bush+21+Afrida.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-vvODqLSQGgUmSMTZA9ILgndtw2pV3usUIx920eBDgmGqssXsnwssmeP0P9R4UzFdPBOrdgcKKHycLrsACCH-Krcgfm5IRxeelqWD0HOBehrCbvNX8rou_3SY9-vqMnTxrPg0VHhlfQy/s400/George+W.+Bush+21+Afrida.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">GWB has spent his time traveling the country and the world on behalf of human freedom, global health, education, economic freedom, and <a href="http://newbusinessethiopia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=653:former-us-president-to-visit-ethiopia-tanzania-zambia-&catid=27:health&Itemid=52">AIDs research in Africa</a>, something <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/15/georgebush.usa">he began while President</a>. In 2008, he received the <a href="http://www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2008-11-13-voa5-66795107.html"><span lang="X-NONE">Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Award</span></a> for his work in Africa, and in December 2011 he and Mrs. Bush traveled to <a href="http://www.bushcenter.com/africa-trip">Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Zambia</a> in their continued commitment to the people. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5govGzE1CqkoKqKpPc-h8ydtEDv3V-Dh8NdCk0cO1DJRV5Qv8ZkEk0T-IKZ6Gut9ERKaqgXvRS4xJD411Ms7dulVu8r2HB5PLf7UHA29UECS5xkOTt5OVapOH8tlxKgA0IAkUNs55qdU3/s960/George+W.+Bush+22+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5govGzE1CqkoKqKpPc-h8ydtEDv3V-Dh8NdCk0cO1DJRV5Qv8ZkEk0T-IKZ6Gut9ERKaqgXvRS4xJD411Ms7dulVu8r2HB5PLf7UHA29UECS5xkOTt5OVapOH8tlxKgA0IAkUNs55qdU3/s400/George+W.+Bush+22+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not many are aware of <a href="http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2011/07/19/bono-praises-george-w-bush-saving-millions-africa-prendergast-credits">Bush’s humanitarian work</a> in other parts of the world. In the summer of 2011, Bono of the rock group U-2  praised Bush for his fight against AIDs in Africa, a stand that has  saved over five million lives during the past eight years. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3QqlEqaJkAkM-Elx6-_8_cg5tDcgzpxel5vEPVjluoGVSbtJBWDzZNtOh-vaMUIELssYQH4ZfwCtJZF3gepufxDgAnMZkppF17UidXBUEYfKrMxqeNYts8dYe7LO05WaB4VbViOXKyYJ/s960/George+W.+Bush+23+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3QqlEqaJkAkM-Elx6-_8_cg5tDcgzpxel5vEPVjluoGVSbtJBWDzZNtOh-vaMUIELssYQH4ZfwCtJZF3gepufxDgAnMZkppF17UidXBUEYfKrMxqeNYts8dYe7LO05WaB4VbViOXKyYJ/s400/George+W.+Bush+23+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In addition,  human rights activist John Prendegast noted that it was during Bush’s  administration and with the help of America’s influence that South Sudan  was able to successfully obtain peace with the north. Democratic consultant and Fox News contributor Bob Beckel, co-host on Fox News Channel’s “The Five,” <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2012/02/democrat-bob-beckel-picks-george-w-bush.html">praised Bush’s African work</a> and picked him as one of his two all-time favorite presidents.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgps2o5pq3Sk2GEb7D8XBGAUXxPOFMjq3TqyCZLaJ229kZ4RDYiQ6pwaa9VuzHQ3tlHsm1ZUhyphenhyphenHG-iTkbXG7rJqf13jf9Tg7fBmowfw5A1CIXxTdDvMKpp-0U8QvFTndIobvQUH9l6URGBF/s960/George+W.+Bush+24+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgps2o5pq3Sk2GEb7D8XBGAUXxPOFMjq3TqyCZLaJ229kZ4RDYiQ6pwaa9VuzHQ3tlHsm1ZUhyphenhyphenHG-iTkbXG7rJqf13jf9Tg7fBmowfw5A1CIXxTdDvMKpp-0U8QvFTndIobvQUH9l6URGBF/s400/George+W.+Bush+24+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The President's tee shirt in this photo is a reminder that on the home front, most of the time he has spent with  America’s military members is unknown to the public as he greets solders at  airports when they return home from service overseas, reaches out to  individual families, and works with injured military veterans and the <a href="http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/">Wounded Warrior Project</a> including the <a href="http://www.bushcenter.org/military-service-initiative/w100k%E2%80%8E">W 100K mountain bike ride</a>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtBoJC3jJoWAj-fB-SSBZRobWr92-pmpN2L1K9SIzA6hyphenhyphenad4gL6Bkdxc19aydtq2t1Kkun3p-clDQzeB2qdKNPwllCiVnHkTE55auS8Qyl6RGOCFwoRMDuA9xbEz_m-0iSjafefuK1Zhf/s960/George+W.+Bush+25+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtBoJC3jJoWAj-fB-SSBZRobWr92-pmpN2L1K9SIzA6hyphenhyphenad4gL6Bkdxc19aydtq2t1Kkun3p-clDQzeB2qdKNPwllCiVnHkTE55auS8Qyl6RGOCFwoRMDuA9xbEz_m-0iSjafefuK1Zhf/s400/George+W.+Bush+25+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38skE0MMda-OwczQ72xXvryt0sZ9Xhg22ICRjdL610yKSDXecsLDQRrH8JxSVkRICqYuKk97Gr3rzRHECNEz0JQXx3JtvBsL-3Xx6rzS-oED4DbSoFIfdfqXQXgnD1aCI4Kxx0H8F-uRE/s960/George+W.+Bush+26+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38skE0MMda-OwczQ72xXvryt0sZ9Xhg22ICRjdL610yKSDXecsLDQRrH8JxSVkRICqYuKk97Gr3rzRHECNEz0JQXx3JtvBsL-3Xx6rzS-oED4DbSoFIfdfqXQXgnD1aCI4Kxx0H8F-uRE/s400/George+W.+Bush+26+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexZCO7QEjAtH9dvaWzK0aw9oxMRU7e4caBDPpF3oog5mYezkEmHjqUARjhla2S2wieKjyXzxLCVnTVsziD8EyitU7oFLFiUnmd0Wouqd-IMjz1ULZY7pSoC49U2hanzUDD6VVi00R8EhJ/s960/George+W.+Bush+27+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexZCO7QEjAtH9dvaWzK0aw9oxMRU7e4caBDPpF3oog5mYezkEmHjqUARjhla2S2wieKjyXzxLCVnTVsziD8EyitU7oFLFiUnmd0Wouqd-IMjz1ULZY7pSoC49U2hanzUDD6VVi00R8EhJ/s400/George+W.+Bush+27+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOrBMoluByQjvhzXleYJ9QCHDa4S-9O0MmWxywlDF6gA1HvqBSkrsLQHdPQGzslnddzBNZrZK8iHd2YhQDSn0ycPX40o09Ba0W9PQG33aN8eDIY3_ScPuIazcdM9Xl01g97m6gzz1DbGS/s960/George+W.+Bush+30+Africa+Laura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOrBMoluByQjvhzXleYJ9QCHDa4S-9O0MmWxywlDF6gA1HvqBSkrsLQHdPQGzslnddzBNZrZK8iHd2YhQDSn0ycPX40o09Ba0W9PQG33aN8eDIY3_ScPuIazcdM9Xl01g97m6gzz1DbGS/s400/George+W.+Bush+30+Africa+Laura.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Y6CNF_qj5f9E3pcUwr5W234HwD_zaltjxodqmGLU4eVGdK_KjWuMdMmOUw9YLJioMKN5ZTmvWK8vQusvPLDwJq7z3TeF-pP-nQoX76vSzi_MltMcwK6ZJICBvq0-EJJq-LNhmcHN_cE0/s960/George+W.+Bush+31+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Y6CNF_qj5f9E3pcUwr5W234HwD_zaltjxodqmGLU4eVGdK_KjWuMdMmOUw9YLJioMKN5ZTmvWK8vQusvPLDwJq7z3TeF-pP-nQoX76vSzi_MltMcwK6ZJICBvq0-EJJq-LNhmcHN_cE0/s400/George+W.+Bush+31+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFMeYl-ASUQvWBiBB3A5DXH_RLhG3wYFTCC-4-YrDqNpPwVDbzeo528dqiGcClIyaEgHO56KVgzyqoWAD0UcRciKqMNelI03Y_q97NNvcf1xQJ33kyoQVlpATTn5I35VuK4TtkSWfWycw/s960/George+W.+Bush+32+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFMeYl-ASUQvWBiBB3A5DXH_RLhG3wYFTCC-4-YrDqNpPwVDbzeo528dqiGcClIyaEgHO56KVgzyqoWAD0UcRciKqMNelI03Y_q97NNvcf1xQJ33kyoQVlpATTn5I35VuK4TtkSWfWycw/s400/George+W.+Bush+32+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">More about George and Laura Bush's work in Africa can be seen <a href="http://www.swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/07/wapost-obama-yet-to-leave-lasting.html">here</a> and <a href="http://bearingdrift.com/2012/04/03/george-w-bush-not-endorsing-in-presidential-primary-is-no-mystery/">here.</a></div><br /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><i>Cross-posted at <a href="http://www.politicalpineapple.com/">Va Political Pineapple</a></i> </span></span><br /><br /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Photos by Paul Morse</span></span><br /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">For the <a href="http://www.bushcenter.org/">George W. Bush Presidential Center</a></span></span>

George W. Bush carries on humanitarian work in Africa

Africa AIDS Relief George W. Bush George W. Bush Institute global health initiative humanitarian mission Laura Bush Tanzania Zambia George W. Bush carries on humanitarian work in Africa

After a week of renovating, President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush opened the Mosi-Oa-Tunya clinic, a cervical cancer facility in Livingsto...

WaPost: 'Obama yet to leave a lasting legacy for Africa on the scale of Bush and Clinton'

2:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-xLr7IN3Q3pN_zBAieochku5BCuOXMS5FbJNwShAVcFCMaetejkbB0qCSEet0Bw3WoWol9KUBhQ2XS1gMH_jAaYdyKNc6Pxnf7SH6b5Qnm-xsb_7W2HJDBR43tw1OwJ0XMJlW9s3kxc9/s720/George+W.+Bush+20+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-xLr7IN3Q3pN_zBAieochku5BCuOXMS5FbJNwShAVcFCMaetejkbB0qCSEet0Bw3WoWol9KUBhQ2XS1gMH_jAaYdyKNc6Pxnf7SH6b5Qnm-xsb_7W2HJDBR43tw1OwJ0XMJlW9s3kxc9/s400/George+W.+Bush+20+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Laura and George W. Bush in Zambia, June 30, 2013.</i></div><br />The pictures are all over Facebook showing Former President George W. Bush and wife Laura traveling Africa this week as they continue their humanitarian mission that began before leaving the White House four years ago.<br /><br />Slowly but surely liberals have begrudingly had to admit GWB has played a large role in <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/bush-aids-policies-shadow-obama-in-africa/2013/06/30/0c8e023c-e1ac-11e2-aef3-339619eab080_story.html?tid=pm_world_pop">AIDs relief</a> that has been credited with saving millions of lives. The Bushes have been <a href="http://bearingdrift.com/2012/04/03/george-w-bush-not-endorsing-in-presidential-primary-is-no-mystery/">instrumental in other global health advances</a>, too, and are almost revered in that part of the world. <br /><br />President Barack Obama? Not so much, and the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/obama-yet-to-leave-a-lasting-legacy-for-africa-on-the-scale-of-bush-and-clinton/2013/06/28/2d47d9f2-dfc3-11e2-8cf3-35c1113cfcc5_story_1.html">Washington Post</a> has noticed:<br /><blockquote>Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush passed innovative Africa initiatives while in the White House and passionately continue their development work in the region in their presidential afterlife. Obama’s efforts here have not been so ambitious, despite his personal ties to the continent.</blockquote>It must be a tad awkward for Obama to find himself in Bush's shadow after spending the first four years of his administration blaming his predecessor for everything that went wrong in America. The Post notes that Obama is five years into his administration and just now on a major tour of Africa, just the second time while President:<br /><blockquote>His first major tour of Africa as president is coming just now, in his fifth year, while Bush and Clinton are frequent fliers to Africa. Bush even will be in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, next week at the same time as Obama, although they have no plans to meet. Instead, their wives plan to appear together at a summit on empowering African women organized by the George W. Bush Institute, with the former president in attendance.</blockquote>The people of Africa had expected more from America's first black president after he told them in his first year, "I have the blood of Africa in me."<br /><br />Meanwhile, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush captured the heart of Africa with work that continues to this day:<br /><blockquote>Clinton first drew extensive attention to Africa in 1998 when he made the longest trip ever by a U.S. president, with stops in six countries that had never before been visited by any occupant of the Oval Office.  Bush’s trip this week is his third in 19 months to promote his Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon partnership to combat breast and cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. On this visit, he and his wife, Laura, plan to help renovate a cervical cancer screening and treatment clinic in Zambia before heading to Tanzania for the African First Ladies Summit advocating investment in programs for women and girls.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI7N-R5ei14mySuFZE6ERRnUWTtuuULYNs3nQMCoTgzejuA9JbBUdOvurO4dnEkuOCLX3eMm3x8MbuVPiWd0d_X1Xvz9h83rTxg-ghPiSX_ynUoTUBiHfeG0mETAI7-4yIUgnpbEHa5jU/s640/George+W.+Bush+21+Afrida.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI7N-R5ei14mySuFZE6ERRnUWTtuuULYNs3nQMCoTgzejuA9JbBUdOvurO4dnEkuOCLX3eMm3x8MbuVPiWd0d_X1Xvz9h83rTxg-ghPiSX_ynUoTUBiHfeG0mETAI7-4yIUgnpbEHa5jU/s400/George+W.+Bush+21+Afrida.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>After a week of renovating, President and Mrs. Bush opened the Mosi-Oa-Tunya clinic, a cervical cancer facility in Livingstone, Zambia. Their trip demonstrates their continued commitment to the people of Africa through the work of the global health initiative at the George W. Bush Institute. June 30, 2013</i></div><br />Photos from the <i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheBushCenter?fref=ts">George W. Bush Presidential Center</a></i>

WaPost: 'Obama yet to leave a lasting legacy for Africa on the scale of Bush and Clinton'

Africa AIDS Relief Barack Obama Bill Clinton George W. Bush George W. Bush Presidential Center humanitarian mission Laura Bush Washington Post Zambia WaPost: 'Obama yet to leave a lasting legacy for Africa on the scale of Bush and Clinton'

Laura and George W. Bush in Zambia, June 30, 2013. The pictures are all over Facebook showing Former President George W. Bush and wife Laura...