BBC begins nightly Ebola service in west Africa

London (AFP) - BBC World Service radio on Monday began nightly Ebola broadcasts for west Africa, concentrating on efforts to combat the virus across the region.

The nine-minute programme will be broadcast at 1950 GMT on the shortwave frequencies 9915 kHz and 12095 kHz.

The "News About West Africa" broadcasts will include a round-up of developments particularly from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the three worst-affected countries.

"Through local stories, correspondents and interviews, the broadcast will include the latest information about local, regional and international effort to contain and combat the disease," the British Broadcasting Corporation said in a statement.

"There is a great deal of new information emerging about how best to respond to Ebola and the programme aims that to share that with an African and global audience."

The World Health Organization updated the epidemic's overall death toll Monday to 2,793, while adding that the outbreak was basically contained in Senegal and Nigeria.

"Lack of knowledge and myths about the disease are killing people as surely as Ebola is," said BBC World Service director Peter Horrocks.

"Quality information from both within and outside the countries affected about how the risks of Ebola can be safely managed will save lives.

"The range of emergency activities on Ebola from the BBC World Service are in the finest traditions of the humanitarian instincts of our broadcasting."