WHO’s reaction to ebola outbreak - Failings had key role in disaster

SINCE its creation in 1948 the World Health Organization has played a leading role in the elimination or containment of deadly diseases like smallpox, tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS.

But its belated response to last year’s ebola crisis does little credit to the body set up by the United Nations to lead the global fight against disease and ill health.

According to an international panel of experts, failings by the WHO played a key role in the disaster which claimed more than 11,000 lives.