Ebola spread in large cities threatens millions
Ebola infection is confirmed in a million towns of Conakry and Monrovia. - We do not control and I'm very worried, says Lindis Hurum in MSF.
Updated:
Aid Coordinator Lindis Hurum of Norway visited two days ago a hospital
in Monrovia where three people were isolated because they assume they
are infected with Ebola. Two of them are health professionals who have been infected in their work. Statistically, they have only 10 to 30 percent chance of survival.
- They have very tough. The only contact they have with people with health professionals wearing full protective clothing, Hurum said by telephone from Liberia's capital, with a population of 1 million people.
She confirms that many health workers have become ill and died.
- I have no numbers, but I can confirm that many health professionals
have lost their lives in all three countries, says Overvoll. The main reason is that the symptoms of Ebola are similar to the symptoms associated with other diseases, such as malaria. This does not take health professionals the necessary precautions.
Hurum said she is very concerned about the situation in Monrovia.
- We are definitely not the situation under control. We see new suspected cases every day, she says.
It is very important to get an overview of who the sick have been in contact with after they were infected, so that you can monitor them, but in Monrovia, this system is not good enough, according to Hurum.
- It is brand new that something like this pops up in a capital city. We need help from the WHO and from other organizations and must be mobilized even more the next day.
A spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO) claims there is a
system in Monrovia to identify who the sick have been in contact with,
but admits that it's hard to get a good overview.
- When people move when it is difficult to follow all contacts, said Fadel Chaib, spokeswoman for WHO.
WHO points out four reasons why the epidemic has become so serious:
1 infection has occurred in a border area where it is common for people traveling between countries.
2 Health professionals have met resistance in some communities. Thus, they have not been isolated potential disease carriers, and the infection is passed on.
3 The symptoms reminiscent of other diseases. The sick remain at home and are treated by the family, which can be infected by Ebola.
4 Local tradition dictates that grieving relatives and other kisses and hugs the body during funerals. Thus, they can even become infected.
More will be done to identify the sick and the people they have infected. More health professionals should be inserted in the fight against the epidemic. More money should be put into fighting infection.
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- They have very tough. The only contact they have with people with health professionals wearing full protective clothing, Hurum said by telephone from Liberia's capital, with a population of 1 million people.
- Read more about the threat from Ebola infection: Fear and prejudice. Too few hospitals. Like who kissed.
Many health workers are dead
Her colleague, nurse Sissel Overvoll, returned home yesterday to Norway after his second a month long stay in the three countries. She has provided health care to Ebola sick people, and have found that many of the patients have died. In some cases, entire families.She confirms that many health workers have become ill and died.
Very many health professionals have been killed, says nurse Sissel Overvoll in MSF. She came back Thursday from Africa. She has worked with Ebola victims in both Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
PHOTO: MSF
Have not control
Ebola infection which first appeared in Liberia's neighboring Guinea in February, is now threatening the population in both Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The outbreak is the worst in history, with 763 cases and 468 dead so far.Hurum said she is very concerned about the situation in Monrovia.
- We are definitely not the situation under control. We see new suspected cases every day, she says.
It is very important to get an overview of who the sick have been in contact with after they were infected, so that you can monitor them, but in Monrovia, this system is not good enough, according to Hurum.
To see ebola virus out.
- When people move when it is difficult to follow all contacts, said Fadel Chaib, spokeswoman for WHO.
Crisis Meeting
WHO concluded yesterday a two-day emergency meeting about the Ebola epidemic in Accra, Ghana. Delegates from 11 countries in the region were invited to put a game plan on how to assist the sick and infect vulnerable, not to mention prevent a further spread.WHO points out four reasons why the epidemic has become so serious:
1 infection has occurred in a border area where it is common for people traveling between countries.
2 Health professionals have met resistance in some communities. Thus, they have not been isolated potential disease carriers, and the infection is passed on.
3 The symptoms reminiscent of other diseases. The sick remain at home and are treated by the family, which can be infected by Ebola.
4 Local tradition dictates that grieving relatives and other kisses and hugs the body during funerals. Thus, they can even become infected.
Serious Threat
Health ministers from the 11 countries that were at the WHO meeting agreed that they faced "a serious threat" that required immediate action. Therefore, countries must now work together more closely. Local leaders, both religious and political will is mobilized to get out the message about how people should relate to the disease.More will be done to identify the sick and the people they have infected. More health professionals should be inserted in the fight against the epidemic. More money should be put into fighting infection.
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