国际英语新闻:UN Security Council calls for preparedness to detect Ebola cases

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday called for preparedness by all member states to detect, prevent and respond to suspected cases of Ebola within and across borders after Mali has reported Ebola infections.

"The Security Council expresses its concern about the recent reported Ebola infections in Mali," said a presidential statement adopted at a council debate on Ebola.

"The Security Council affirms the importance of preparedness by all Member States to detect, prevent, respond to, isolate and mitigate suspected cases of Ebola within and of bolstering the preparedness of all countries in the region," said the statement.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said in its update released on Friday that Mali has officially reported a cumulative total of six cases of Ebola disease, with six deaths, as of Thursday. Of the six cases, five were laboratory confirmed and one remains probable as no samples were available for testing.

"The Security Council recognizes the important steps taken by the government of Mali, including by appointing an Ebola Incident Coordinator to lead a whole-of-government response," said the statement.

The council also asked the international community to remain flexible in order to respond quickly to the dynamic needs of Ebola- affected countries as well as new outbreaks, according to the statement.

David Nabarro, special envoy of the Secretary-General on Ebola, told the council at the debate that while the total number of cases continues to rise, the overall rate of increase has begun to slow, and "this is a good sign."

Nabarro said the UN system will need 1. 5 billion U.S. dollars through to March 2015 to assist with ending the outbreak, and that there is still a shortfall of over 700 million.

The Security Council also asked the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) to continue to strengthen coordination with local governments as well as other organizations for fully and efficiently using response assistance.

Lauding the heroic efforts of the first-line responders to the Ebola outbreak, the Security Council underscored the importance of essential arrangements for timely evacuation of health relief workers.

"The Security Council welcomes the steps announced by Member States and regional organizations to provide medical evacuation capacities for health and humanitarian relief workers, as well as other treatment options in situ," said the statement.