WHO warning of Ebola spread in West Africa

Numerous new infections with the Ebola virus in West Africa

05/30/2014

The Ebola virus is considered one of the most dangerous viruses worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more recent infections with the deadly virus are currently being observed in West Africa. Both Guinea and Sierra Leone have reported more than a dozen cases of Ebola in the last two weeks. WHO is becoming increasingly concerned about current developments and is in close contact with national health authorities to prevent further spread of infections.

WHO sees the current spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa as a serious threat to the population, not least because health systems are not prepared to tackle such epidemics. The medical care of the infected is often inadequate and quarantine stations remain in short supply. Thus, the transmission of the pathogens can be limited only very limited. Opposite the news agency „Reuters“ The Department of Disease Coordinator of the Ministry of Health in Guinea said that in many places, such as the morgues of mosques, there is a very high risk of infection. Even at bus stops could easily be carried a transmission of the virus in the face of close contact with the people.

According to the WHO, 14 new clinical cases and 5 deaths were reported between 23 and 27 May in Guinea alone. Thus, the total number of Ebola infections increased to 281 and the number of deaths to 186. In Sierra Leone, the WHO reported 16 new Ebola infections and five deaths. Much of it focused on the eastern region of Sierra Leone, which borders Guinea and Liberia. In Liberia, according to the WHO, since the infection in early April, no new cases of Ebola have been reported. The WHO further reports that the first steps have already been taken to stem the wave of infection. On „Emergency Response Team“ was set up to assist national health authorities with expertise, logistics and supply.

Internal and external bleeding
An infection with the Ebola virus causes the dreaded Ebola virus, which - depending on the pathogen strain - ends fatally in up to 90 percent of cases. After a maximum of three weeks of incubation, flu-like symptoms initially appear, which quickly turn into a dramatic complaint. Extremely high fever, bloody diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are just as characteristic of the disease, as the subsequent onset of bleeding from the mucous membranes, the bleeding in the skin and increased internal bleeding. Those affected literally bleed from all orifices. With the body fluids, the pathogens can be passed on to other people, which causes an extremely high risk of infection when dealing with those affected. In addition, so far no successful treatment method is known. The therapy focuses primarily on balancing the fluid loss. (Fp)