The West African nation where the Ebola outbreak has taken the most devastating toll needs nearly 80,000 more body bags over the next six months as it battles the deadly virus. An inventory of supplies from the Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare shows the massive gap between the resources the government has and the key supplies it desperately needs to crush the epidemic. Liberia projects a gap of 79,490 body bags and 989,985 protective suits. The ministry's report, dated Oct. 10, also says 2,425 Liberians have died of the viral hemorrhagic fever since the start of the outbreak, including 95 health care workers.
The Pentagon has already deployed hundreds of soldiers to West Africa to combat Ebola, with thousands more military personnel on the way in an operation estimated to cost $750 million. The U.S. has said it would send 5,000 body bags to the Ebola-ravaged region.
IN-DEPTH
- Another 100 U.S. Troops Arrive in Liberia to Fight Ebola
- Liberian Ebola Health Workers Defy Calls to Strike After Appeals
- Ebola Stalks the Streets of Hard-Hit Monrovia, Liberia
