Over 330 deaths from Ebola epidemic in West Africa

Ebola epidemic in West Africa is spreading

06/19/2014

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa is causing more and more casualties. „Between 14 and 16 June 2014, a total of seven new cases and five new deaths were reported“ reported from Guinea alone, reports the World Health Organization (WHO). In Sierra Leone and Liberia, too, the death toll has risen again in recent days.

The Ebola virus is particularly feared as a trigger of Ebola fever, as up to 90 percent of the diseases end in death. After initially flu-like symptoms show serious symptoms, such as severe fever, bloody diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, as well as bleeding from the mucous membranes, bleeding in the skin and increased internal bleeding in the later course of the disease. With the body fluids, the pathogens can be easily passed on to other people, which brings an extremely high risk of infection when dealing with the Ebola patients. A reliable treatment method is not yet known. For example, outbreaks such as the current Ebola epidemic in West Africa are a major concern for national and international health authorities, especially as on-the-spot medical care is often insufficiently prepared for such epidemics.

Increased spread of the Ebola epidemic
For around three months, the Ebola epidemic has raged in West Africa. In Guinea, where the first infections had occurred, according to the latest figures from the WHO, 264 deaths have been officially reported since the outbreak of the epidemic. In the neighboring countries of Guinea, more and more infections with the Ebola virus have been recorded. In Sierra Leone, WHO reported a total of 31 new cases of illness between 15 and 17 June alone, including four new deaths. Thus, the total number of deaths in Sierra Leone since the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic rose to 49, the number of diseases was 97. Just last week, Sierra Leone closed its border with Guinea to prevent further spread of the epidemic.

Numerous deaths in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
In Liberia, although the number of reported Ebola infections is still relatively low, according to the WHO were in the last week, a total of nine new cases and five new deaths recorded. Thus, the total number of cases and deaths in Liberia increased to 33 diseases (18 confirmed, 8 probable and 7 suspected) and 24 deaths, reports the World Health Organization. Overall, in West Africa almost 340 people have died as a result of an infection with the dreaded virus since the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic. However, WHO has not yet decided to recommend travel or trade restrictions for Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. (Fp)