United Nations: The UN Security Council called on Wednesday in the international community to "accelerate and dramatically expand" aid to combat the spread of Ebola.
In a unanimously adopted statement, the 15-member body warned that the world's response "has failed to date to adequately address the magnitude of the outbreak and its effects."
The council urged all member states and multilateral organizations to "accelerate and dramatically expand the provision of resources and financial and material assistance."
It called for mobile laboratories, field hospitals, trained clinical personnel, therapies, vaccines and diagnostics, and protective gear.
At the same time, it urged states as well as airlines and shipping companies to keep open trade and travel links with the West African countries most affected by the outbreak.
"They expressed their continued concern about the detrimental effect of the isolation of the affected countries as a result of trade and travel restrictions imposed on and to the affected countries, as well as acts of discrimination against the nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone," the statement said.
The council agreed on the statement after briefings from Anthony Banbury, UN chief Ban Ki-moon's special representative for the UN's emergency response to the epidemic.
Nearly 4,500 people have died this year, mainly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, and health officials warn many more will die if the outbreak continues at its current pace.
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