Experts: WHO blunders led to 'thousands and thousands' of African Ebola deaths

A health worker sprays down a hospital in Sierra Leone, during 2014&#039;s devastating Ebola outbreak

(Image credit: AP/YouTube)

published 21 September 2015

The World Health Organization bungled its response to the deadly Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia with its "toxic mix of avoidable problems," including "weak leadership, shoddy supplies, and infighting," according to an Associated Press investigation. In all, the epidemic cost more than 11,000 lives in 2014 and 2015, and it isn't officially over yet.

The AP investigation focused on Kenema Government Hospital in Sierra Leone, where, among other problems and shortages, WHO used some batches of expired government-issued chlorine bleach, where chlorine was, in the words of hospital porter Juma Musa, "the only thing that was giving us courage to come closer to patients." Other aid organizations flew in their own chlorine bleach powder.

WHO officials defended the agency's actions in the fight against Ebola, noting the larger problems of local customs and population movement. But Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness, disagrees. "There's no question that a better and earlier response from WHO could have resulted in thousands and thousands of fewer deaths than we saw," he told AP. "By the time WHO got in there, they were disorganized and late to the party." You can learn more at AP and in the video below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

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