The German government has decided to step up measures to tackle the Ebola outbreak. Federal government spokesperson Steffen Seibert underscored the need for more human resources in the affected regions. Federal Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced that she would be calling for Bundeswehr medical staff to serve in Liberia.
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The German government has been supporting the World Health Organization (WHO) and NGOs operating in the affected areas, including Médecins Sans Frontières, since the outbreak began.
On Friday the State Secretaries of the ministries involved agreed on additional measures to fight the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Speaking on Monday, government spokesperson Steffen Seibert laid out the measures taken by Germany to tackle Ebola:
The German government is prepared to use its development cooperation budget to support additional preventive measures as well as to provide medical supplies and food.
In addition to the measures decided on Friday, Federal Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced that she would be launched a call within the Bundeswehr to recruit medical staff to tackle Ebola in Liberia. The Bundeswehr will be transporting a field hospital for 50 patients to the region.
No risk of Ebola spreading in Germany
Ebola is an extremely rare life-threatening infectious disease. In all probability fruit bats are the source of the virus, although this has not yet been definitively ascertained. Humans and animals can become infected if they come into contact with infected fruit bats. The disease is communicated through contact with body fluids of victims (e.g. vomit, blood or sweat). Although the World Health Organization has declared an "international public health emergency", the population of Germany is not at risk. All the recommendations issued by the WHO for countries like Germany have been implemented. Should an Ebola patient arrive in Germany all preconditions are already in place to ensure safe treatment.