Setback New Ebola case in Liberia

Again setback: New Ebola case diagnosed in Liberia

03/21/2015

It has recently been highlighted in the news that Liberia has not reported new Ebola infections. The fight against the plague seemed near the end. But now there is a major setback: A woman was tested positive for the virus in the West African country.

New Ebola case in Liberia
For the first time in a month, a new Ebola case has been registered in Liberia, West Africa. According to government spokesman Lewis Brow, news agency AFP said there had been no new infections for more than 27 days. But now, according to him, a woman was tested positive for the virus. Brown spoke in this context of a setback for the country. First, it was unclear where the patient was infected. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), all contact persons of the last known contagion cases had ended the 21-day observation period. Although there were 125 suspected cases by 15 March, none of them confirmed it.

Over 10,200 deaths
According to AFP, a source familiar with the new infection case reported that the patient was the wife of a man cured of Ebola. According to experts, the virus can still be transmitted for days after healing through sexual intercourse. More than 10,200 people have died of the virus since December 2013, according to WHO figures, in the West African countries most affected by the disease, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. More than 24,700 people in nine countries had become infected. There is no vaccine or cure for the infectious disease. Physicians usually only treat typical Ebola symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, as well as internal and external bleeding.

Land should soon be declared Ebola-free
Liberia is the country hit hardest by the epidemic. More than 4,000 people died there. But even if from the country half a year ago 300 new infections were reported per week, there had recently been significant progress in the fight against the disease. For example, WHO recently stated that no new case had occurred in Liberia since 19 February. This started a 42-day countdown on March 4, after which the country should be declared Ebola-free by April 15.

Fighting epidemics is often difficult
In the neighboring countries of Guinea and Sierra Leone, the fight against the epidemic, unlike Liberia recently made more difficult. Just a few days ago, Sierra Leone announced a three-day curfew for 2.5 million people to halt the epidemic at the end of March. In the past week, however, the country has reported the lowest number since June, with 55 new cases. On the other hand, with 95 new infections in one week, Guinea had its highest level since the beginning of the year. Continued popular opposition to anti-Ebola measures is expected to hinder efforts in the two nations. For example, some Ebola patients are still not quarantined and treated, and there are still insecure funerals of the highly infectious corpses. Recently, Guinea launched a large-scale trial with a vaccine that has not yet been approved. Also in Liberia a similar campaign had been started. (Ad)