UN says Ebola response is progressing six months on, but insecurity is the biggest challenge
UN health officials said on 13 November that the Ebola response has made progress six months after the outbreak began, but that cases are spreading to remote, dangerous parts of Congo. Médecins Sans Frontières is more critical.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2UN health officials said in Geneva on Friday 13 November that the Ebola response has made progress six months after the outbreak first prompted global concern, but that the disease continues to spread to more remote and dangerous parts of Congo. The Straits TimesRC “UN health officials on Friday hailed progress in the Ebola response six months after the outbreak first prompted global concerns” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Arab NewsRC “but cautioned that the disease continues to spread to more remote and dangerous parts of Congo” Read at Arab News ↗ Right · 2Confirmed cases now exceed 11,000, making this the second-worst Ebola outbreak on record, and it has spread to parts of east, central and west Africa. The Straits TimesRC “the outbreak is the second-worst for Ebola on record and has spread to parts of east, central and west Africa” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Arab NewsRC “the number of confirmed cases now surpassing 11,000” Read at Arab News ↗ Right · 1Health authorities flagged the outbreak in mid-May. It is driven by the rare Bundibugyo species of the virus, for which there are no approved treatments or vaccines. The Straits TimesRC “Flagged by health authorities in mid-May, the outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo species of the virus, for which there are no approved treatments or vaccines.” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Right · 2Chikwe Ihekweazu, head of the World Health Organization's Health Emergencies Programme, said there are "encouraging signs", citing falling cases in former hotspots such as Bunia in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Straits TimesRC “"We do see encouraging signs," said Chikwe Ihekweazu, head of the World Health Organization's Health Emergencies Programme” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Arab NewsRC “citing falling cases in former hotspots like Bunia in eastern Democratic” Read at Arab News ↗ Right · 2He said cases are now emerging in more rural and hard-to-reach areas and that rising insecurity is the response's biggest challenge, citing WHO data showing 80 attacks on health sites and workers so far. The Straits TimesRC “The biggest challenge the response faces right now is the rising insecurity," he said, citing WHO data showing 80 attacks on health sites and workers so far.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Arab NewsRC “the emergence of cases in more rural and more difficult-to-reach areas” Read at Arab News ↗ Right · 2Médecins Sans Frontières has been more downbeat, saying supplies are missing and the virus is still spreading out of control. The Straits TimesRC “French medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières has been more downbeat on the Ebola response, saying that supplies are missing and the virus is still spreading out of control.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Arab NewsRC “saying that supplies are missing and the virus is still spreading out of control” Read at Arab News ↗
Right · 2Responding to that criticism, Julien Harneis, the UN's special Ebola coordinator, said the area of operation is "unimaginable vast" but that responders are able to operate 80% of the time across it. The Straits TimesRC “"The area of operation is vast, just unimaginable vast...But 80% of the time, and across this vast area, we're able to operate."” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Arab NewsRC “Julien Harneis, the UN's special Ebola coordinator, said in response to the criticism” Read at Arab News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets carry the same account, led by the UN's positive assessment, with insecurity as the main obstacle and MSF's criticism placed lower down.
- Emphasis
- UN officials' statements, insecurity and attacks on health workers, and the case count.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither gives MSF's own statement or details of the missing supplies, and neither gives the death toll or the geography of spread beyond Congo.
- Charged language
- “hailed progress”“downbeat”
- For example
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“UN health officials on Friday hailed progress in the Ebola response six months after the outbreak first prompted global concerns” — The Straits Times
“UN health officials report progress in the Ebola response but emphasize that insecurity remains a significant hurdle” — Arab News
What every side reports
- UN officials said on 13 November that the Ebola response is making progress six months in.
- Confirmed cases exceed 11,000, the second-worst Ebola outbreak on record.
- The outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo species, with no approved treatments or vaccines.
- WHO data show 80 attacks on health sites and workers.
- MSF says supplies are missing and the virus is spreading out of control.
Where accounts differ
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How well the response is going
- Right
- Both outlets relay UN officials' view of encouraging progress, set against MSF's view that supplies are missing and the virus is spreading out of control; Harneis says responders can operate 80% of the time.
Ebola outbreak topic
The outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo species with no approved treatments or vaccines. It has passed 11,000 confirmed cases and is the second-worst on record.
“the outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo species of the virus, for which there are no approved treatments or vaccines.” — The Straits Times
Democratic Republic of Congo place
Cases are emerging in more rural and difficult-to-reach areas of Congo, while former hotspots such as Bunia are seeing falling cases.
“citing falling cases in former hotspots like Bunia in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.” — The Straits Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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The Straits TimesRC · · via Reuters
UN hails progress in Ebola response, cites insecurity as biggest challenge
Neutral Reuters copy carried by The Straits Times; reports the UN's upbeat assessment with insecurity and MSF's criticism as counterweights.
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UN hails progress in Ebola response, cites insecurity as biggest challenge
Neutral Arab News runs the same text with a lede stressing insecurity as a significant hurdle.
- 13 Nov 10:54 First The Straits TimesRC UN hails progress in Ebola response, cites insecurity as biggest challenge via Reuters
- 13 Nov 21:42 +10h 48m Arab NewsRC UN hails progress in Ebola response, cites insecurity as biggest challenge
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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