Facebook launches Ebola-fighting initiatives

The world's largest social network is joining the fight against Ebola.

On Thursday, Facebook announced three initiatives that aim to help curb the recent outbreak of the deadly virus: a fund raising drive for aid organisations, an informational campaign, and donation of internet and telecommunications infrastructure to support remote areas affected by the disease.

Authorities have confirmed four Ebola cases in the US -- including one death -- and the disease is ravaging certain parts of West Africa. There have been over 13,000 recorded cases of Ebola -- with nearly 5,000 deaths -- in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, according to the Centres for Disease Control. Facebook's efforts are squarely focused on helping people in the countries most affected by the disease.

The most visible of Facebook's projects is a button that will appear at the top of your news feed urging you to donate to one of the organisations selected by Facebook: West Africa: International Medical Corps, the Red Cross, and Save the Children. Using the button, you'll be able to easily donate directly to any of the three organisations and, if you want, tell your friends that you donated.

The company is also working with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to provide information about ebola symptoms, prevention and treatment to people in both affected countries and areas neighbouring those countries. It's not clear how Facebook will be delivering this information.

-wired.co.uk