Ebola - the trivializing of a deadly virus

June 28, 2014 | 10.26 clock Severe criticism of Government of Guinea

Ebola - the trivializing of a deadly virus 

 

Conakry. Largest hospital in Conakry, there is outrage. "You have such lies spread: Ebola is under control, Ebola is past," says Alphadio who works as a doctor at the Donka hospital in the capital of Guinea, West Africa. Because such statements deceptive government and authorities of the country of the blame.

According to WHO figures published on Thursday 635 cases were registered of hemorrhagic fever in the area affected by Ebola most violent Guinea and neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone since the beginning - 399 people died. The World Health Organization (WHO) called for "drastic measures" and convened a conference of eleven Health Minister of West Africa in Accra, Ghana for the July 2 and 3 a.  
"Through the fault of our government, whether they like it or not, has the disease spread into the interior of the country," says Alphadio who wants to name but his first name. "You have such a spread lies that our partners and even the population at some point put his hands in his lap. And that is the result, the epidemic is spreading throughout the country."
 
His colleague Kankou Marah agrees: "We all know today that the Government upholds its interests and avoids the population to tell the truth, not to sell to investors." Even a religious leader in the Muslim Guinea criticizes: Thierno Ousmane Camara Imam calls "by the President, this disease, which unfortunately continues to make families unhappy not to belittle." In early April, Guinean President Alpha Conde declared at the WHO headquarters in Geneva. "Right now the situation is under control and we knock on wood, that there are no new cases" Until then, the death toll in the country at under a hundred was.
 
A few days later Condé welcomed the regional leaders at a meeting in Conakry, saying that he was grateful for coming, "despite all the noise about Ebola." This "noise" is used mainly by the aid organization Doctors Without Borders (Médecins sans frontières, MSF), which is active in the region since the outbreak of the epidemic. On Monday, MSF stated that the situation tools with a 60 outbreaks in Guinea "out of control". In response, Condé criticized the behavior of the MSF and other international organizations locally as "not perfect".
 
The Ebola virus is transmitted by blood and other body fluids. Infected suffering from fever, muscle aches, diarrhea to internal bleeding and organ failure. For some types of pathogen, the disease is fatal in up to 90 percent of cases. To date, there is neither a vaccine nor therapy. According to observations by journalists from the AFP news agency there in Conakry now no more awareness campaign, does not have radio or television was still on the streets. At the stations, the port and airport controls are kept to a minimum.
 
In neighboring Liberia, citizens outraged: "What does the health minister, to sensitize the population, most of whom are illiterate Nothing," says the 38-year-old secretary Sneh Magdel in the capital Monrovia. As in Conakry, there is also no explanation: "We have no budget for huge awareness campaigns," said an anonymous employee of the health system. In New Kru Town, the largest Ebola stove Liberia, says the inhabitants Peter Jleh: "We are Africans, we are used to living in the community, and we will continue to live together and shake hands." http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rp-online.de%2Fleben%2Fgesundheit%2Fnews%2Fkritik-an-guinea-ebola-die-verharmlosung-eines-toedlichen-virus-aid-1.4347761

Health Ministry: Man catches bird flu in Minya

Thu, 26/06/2014 - 12:42

The Ministry of Health and Population announced that a 34-year-old man in Minya has been inflected with the A/H5N1 virus known as bird fllu.

 

It added the patient was currently on a ventilator at hospital and his condition was unstable.

 

The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday evening that it has taken preventive measures once the case was suspected and isolated the patient in Minya Fever Hospital. A sample for the patient was sent to Cairo labs for analysis and his infection with bird flu was confirmed according to results.

 

A team from the Preventive Medicine Sector was dispatched to the patient's residence in Minya, the statement said. His wife and children  were inspected and they are in good health and have no bird flu symptoms, according to the statement. They will be reinspected after 10 days, it added.

 

The patient was transferred to a Cairo hospital in Abbasiya and placed on a ventilator, said the statement.

 

Egypt has not witnessed bird flu cases since April 2013, according to the Health Ministry.http://www.egyptindependent.com//news/health-ministry-man-catches-bird-flu-minya

June 27, 2014.
 In Sierra Leone, EBOLA has become the main topic of household gossip and most, if not all, Sierra Leoneans now live in constant fear of the dreaded killer disease which is reported to have already claimed many lives in the country.
 In the South and Eastern cities of Bo and Kenema, EBOLA has permeated so much fear among the people that many now refuse to shake hands or eat bush meat which are regarded as some of the sources through which the virus is contacted.
  Recently in Kenema, an EBOLA patient called, Mohamed Swaray, of no. 6 Sandi Street, reportedly fled the Kenema Government Hospital after being diagnosed EBOLA positive. His escape from the hospital caused alarm, prompting the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to issue a press release warning all to beware of the EBOLA escapee and report his presence to prevent him from spreading the virus to others.
  Swaray reportedly fled along with his mother and other members of his family and was said to be in Bo, a report which unleashed terror in Bo City where many top government functionaries, including the Deputy Director of Education, John Amara Swaray, now use gloves and disinfectants while at work. Even the bank workers now use gloves while at work. The EBOLA fear has caused authorities of the Serabu Hospital to barricade the entire hospital, banning all visitors. 

 Earlier, EBOLA terror plunged Bo City into chaos as parents ran helter skelter to take away their children from school following rumours that EBOLA immunizers have immunized to death a pupil of the Tony Blair International Academy. The whole thing turned out to be a false alarm as the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, MEST, and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation later issued a joint press release that no EBOLA immunization team visited any school and no pupil had died of EBOLA immunization.  By Joseph Milton Lebbie -http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/68567

Runaway Ebola Patient Strikes Terror

By: SEM on June 27, 2014.

In Sierra Leone, EBOLA has become the main topic of household gossip and most, if not all, Sierra Leoneans now live in constant fear of the dreaded killer disease which is reported to have already claimed many lives in the country.

In the South and Eastern cities of Bo and Kenema, EBOLA has permeated so much fear among the people that many now refuse to shake hands or eat bush meat which are regarded as some of the sources through which the virus is contacted.

Recently in Kenema, an EBOLA patient called, Mohamed Swaray, of no. 6 Sandi Street, reportedly fled the Kenema Government Hospital after being diagnosed EBOLA positive. His escape from the hospital caused alarm, prompting the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to issue a press release warning all to beware of the EBOLA escapee and report his presence to prevent him from spreading the virus to others.

Swaray reportedly fled along with his mother and other members of his family and was said to be in Bo, a report which unleashed terror in Bo City where many top government functionaries, including the Deputy Director of Education, John Amara Swaray, now use gloves and disinfectants while at work. Even the bank workers now use gloves while at work. The EBOLA fear has caused authorities of the Serabu Hospital to barricade the entire hospital, banning all visitors.

Earlier, EBOLA terror plunged Bo City into chaos as parents ran helter skelter to take away their children from school following rumours that EBOLA immunizers have immunized to death a pupil of the Tony Blair International Academy. The whole thing turned out to be a false alarm as the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, MEST, and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation later issued a joint press release that no EBOLA immunization team visited any school and no pupil had died of EBOLA immunization.

By Joseph Milton Lebbie
- See more at: http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/68567#sthash.PjNGDyOk.dpuf

Runaway Ebola Patient Strikes Terror

By: SEM on June 27, 2014.

In Sierra Leone, EBOLA has become the main topic of household gossip and most, if not all, Sierra Leoneans now live in constant fear of the dreaded killer disease which is reported to have already claimed many lives in the country.

In the South and Eastern cities of Bo and Kenema, EBOLA has permeated so much fear among the people that many now refuse to shake hands or eat bush meat which are regarded as some of the sources through which the virus is contacted.

Recently in Kenema, an EBOLA patient called, Mohamed Swaray, of no. 6 Sandi Street, reportedly fled the Kenema Government Hospital after being diagnosed EBOLA positive. His escape from the hospital caused alarm, prompting the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to issue a press release warning all to beware of the EBOLA escapee and report his presence to prevent him from spreading the virus to others.

Swaray reportedly fled along with his mother and other members of his family and was said to be in Bo, a report which unleashed terror in Bo City where many top government functionaries, including the Deputy Director of Education, John Amara Swaray, now use gloves and disinfectants while at work. Even the bank workers now use gloves while at work. The EBOLA fear has caused authorities of the Serabu Hospital to barricade the entire hospital, banning all visitors.

Earlier, EBOLA terror plunged Bo City into chaos as parents ran helter skelter to take away their children from school following rumours that EBOLA immunizers have immunized to death a pupil of the Tony Blair International Academy. The whole thing turned out to be a false alarm as the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, MEST, and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation later issued a joint press release that no EBOLA immunization team visited any school and no pupil had died of EBOLA immunization.

By Joseph Milton Lebbie
- See more at: http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/68567#sthash.PjNGDyOk.dpuf

http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/68567 

WHO denies Ebola outbreak out of hands

Xinhua, June 28, 2014

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday denied the ongoing Ebola outbreaks took place in West Africa has got out of hand.

"The situation was not out of hand, and a lot of work had been done in the three affected countries - Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia - to tackle the situation and stop the transmission of Ebola virus," Dr Pierre Formenty, an expert from WHO's Department of Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Response told a press conference.

He said WHO with local authorities had been able to control the outbreak in different places, for example Telimele and Dabola in Guinea. Despite there were places where WHO was not totally successful, but other places where it had been successful in stopping the chain of transmission.

However, difficulties in identifying cases, tracing the point of contact and delivering the message to the population about the infection still existed in those affected countries, notably in the forest areas.

"Given the recent outbreak of the virus in Sierra Leone, and with people traveling to Liberia and elsewhere, WHO needed to address the possibility of continuous transmission between countries," he added.

He warned the other West African border countries, such as Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Guinea-Bissau and others would be prepared in case people infected with the disease traveled to them.

As of Thursday, a total of 386 Ebola confirmed, probable and suspected cases had been reported in Guinea, including 280 deaths. Sierra Leone had reported 176 cases including 78 deaths. Liberia had reported 63 cases including 41 deaths.

In an effort to interrupt further spread of this virus in the shortest possible time, WHO will convene a special meeting between July 2 and 3 in Ghana to discuss the best way of tackling the crisis collectively as well as develop a comprehensive inter country operational response plan. http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2014-06/28/content_32799749.htm

Liberia: Churches Are Not Hospital for Curing Ebola - Chief Medical Officer Warns

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway, 27 June 2014

 Liberia's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Bernice Dahn, has warned churches in the country that are keeping people infected with the Ebola virus to desist immediately.
Dr. Dahn pointed out that people infected of the virus are being kept in door by churches on ground that they (patient) can be healed through prayer.
According to her, since the outbreak of the virus, many churches have considered the epidemic to be more spiritual rather than being medical.
The Liberia's Chief Medical Officer made these comments on Thursday, June 26, 2014 when the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare received some medical equipment for Ebola response from the Government of the United States of America (USA) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The equipment were presented to the WHO, which in turn presented it to the Ministry of Health.
Speaking further, Dr. Dahn disclosed that three persons suspected of the Ebola virus in the Borough of New Kru Town died in a church where they had gone for prayer.
But she fell short to state the name of the church in which the patients died.
She pointed out that the condition is deteriorating due to the refusal of Liberians to accept about the existence of the disease here.
"We must stop keeping people suspected of Ebola in our churches on ground that we can heal them. We are begging our pastors. The churches are not hospital. We need to take a stance to prevent the rapid spread of the disease," she added.
Speaking briefly, the Mission Director of USAID-Liberia, Mr. John Mark Winfield, said the donation is intended to help Liberia in its Ebola response.
For his part, the Country Representative of WHO, Dr. Nester Ndayiminje, lauded the United States government for its kind gesture.
He pointed out that the donation will boost the Ebola response in the country.
"We are very pleased to receive this. We want to say a very thank you to the US government for this gesture. It is important that everybody puts hands together for the response of Ebola," he stated.
Meanwhile, some of the donated items include: 13 cartoons and 50 pieces of disposable full flu shield, 22 cartoons of personal protector, 36 cartoons of respiratory mask, 27 cartoons of powder free examination glove, seven pairs of heavy duty glove and 100 pieces of digital thermometer.
The equipment donated are said to be in the range of US$30,000. http://allafrica.com/stories/201406270789.html

Liberia: Ebola Awareness Team Chased in Lofa

By Korboi Gbelewala, 26 June 2014Several health workers, who had gone create awareness about the Ebola virus recently in Lofa County, have been chased by some citizens of the county.
The health workers were chased by some citizens of Konia Town, Zeyeama Clan in Zorzor District, Lofa County where they (health workers) had gone to create sensitization on the deadly Ebola virus.
The citizens contended that reports about the outbreak of the Ebola virus were false.
Zorzor District Commissioner Henry Wolobah made the disclosure recently in a cell phone interview with the Liberia News Agency.
Mr. Wolobah has meanwhile, urged residents of the district to take preventive measures, adding that Ebola is a disease that is very dangerous and is easy to kill.
He is also appealing to the County Health Team not to be deterred by this development, and to continue its robust awareness in the district to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
In a related development, health authorities at the Tellewoyan Memorial Hospital in Voinjama, Lofa County have reported two suspected cases of Ebola at the Hospital in Voinjama.
The Nursing Directress of the hospital, Miss Genevieve Hilton, made the disclosure Tuesday during an Ebola coordination meeting held at the Lofa County Health Office in Voinjama City, Lofa County.
Miss Hilton told the gathering that the two suspects have been quarantined at the isolation Unit in Voinjama.
During the meeting, surveillance committees were set up, one in Voinjama and another in Foya, to monitor and collect specimens from individuals who show signs and symptoms of the disease. http://allafrica.com/stories/201406260556.html

Ebola doctors assaulted Gueckedou

Dr Sakoba Keita on the case of doctors assaulted Gueckedou "they are all healed now»

Recently rushed to raise awareness Gueckedou, the epicenter of the epidemic of Ebola doctors were attacked by angry citizens who struck Guineenews learned from several sources.
Some of our sources even say that doctors were bound. Their only fault: he spoke of Ebola hemorrhagic fever. "Really, you do not understand these people. Sometimes they say it's okay, sometimes they say it will not. So when we will still continue to talk about this disease? People feel pissed here, "told us that we have a citizen on the phone Tuesday night.

According to our sources, it took the intervention of security forces to save narrowly emissaries of the Ministry of Health. They were rushed to Conakry, where they were admitted to the "chino Guinea Kipé hospital."

Reached by telephone Wednesday, Dr Sakoba Keita, member of the National Committee against the epidemic, reassured that doctors are discharged from the hospital there for it six days. "They are all healed now. They are discharged from hospital there of that five or six days, "said Dr Sakoba Keita.

( Guineenews.org )

Writing Emergency Live | 26.06.2014  http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emergency-live.com%2Ffr%2Fnouvelles%2Fmaxi-urgences%2Febola-medecins-agresses-a-gueckedou

11 Week Sustained MERS Transmission - Jeddah To Tehran

Recombinomics Commentary 07:15
June 25, 2014

Tehran University of Medical Sciences has released partial N gene sequences from three recent MERS cases which appear to match the three cases described in WHO updates (June 11 and 13).  Two are sisters (50F and 52F) from Kerman (May 17 collections 82772-Kerman and 82769-Kerman) which exactly match each other and the sequence from the Jeddah export to Orlando, Florida (Florida/USA-2_Saudi Arabia_2014) via commercial airline with connections in London, Boston, and Atlanta. 

This sequence is closely related to a Jeddah export to Greece, as well as earlier sequences from cases in Jeddah and Mecca (six cases in Jeddah and Mecca (C7149 and C7770 from hospital A collected on April 3 and 7, respectively, as well as C7569 from hospital B collected on April 5, followed by Jeddah sequences C8826 and C9055 collected on April 12 and April 14 from hospital A and C, respectively, as well as Mecca (C9355) collected on April 15).

The third sequence from Iran (80946-Tehran) was collected a month after (June 17 and the prompt release of this important sequence by researchers in Tehran is to be commended) the Kerman samples, and is likely from the health care worker (35F) linked to Kerman sisters (described in the WHO June 13 update).  This sequence matched the Kerman/Orlando sequences, but had one additional polymorphism, C29329T which encoded T225I in the N gene.  All of the Jeddah sub-clade sequences had ORF 8b non-synonymous polymorphisms, L40P and K60N, confirming sustained transmission from April 3 in Jeddah to June 17 in Tehran.

This sustained transmission was suggested in the WHO announcement associated with the 6th PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concerns), which noted that there was no evidence for sustained MERS transmission in communities.  The addition of the “community” qualifier indirectly acknowledged sustained transmission in health care settings.  This sustained transmission was indirectly acknowledged in WHO explanations for the spike in MERS cases, which was attributed to infection control issues.

However, the exported case to Greece, as well as the three cases in Iran, which were directly or indirectly linked to a symptomatic pilgrim who returned to Iran after performing Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) support sustained transmission outside of hospital settings, WHO qualifiers and proclamations notwithstanding.

Ebola kills 46 in Sierra Leone

By ibahim olayinka 15:24  No comments

Chief Medical Officer, Sierra Leone Ministry of Health, Dr Brima Kargbo, verbally expressed on Wednesday in Freetown that 46 people had died of the Ebola virus in the country.

He verbalized as at Wednesday there were 163 substantiated cases of Ebola, while 15 patients had been discharged from the Regime Hospital in Kenema.

Kargbo verbally expressed that most of the affected were proximate relatives of those who had died from the disease.

He verbally expressed that 142 out of the 163 cases emanated from the Kailahun District.

“It is a disease of contact and those affected range from three years to over 60 years or more. If only people report to hospitals without delay, their chances of survival are high,” he verbalized.

Kargbo verbally expressed the outbreak had become worrisome because the type of Ebola strain appeared to be different from the one in DR Congo and for this 30 blood samples of the strain to Harvard University for identification.

He verbalized that regime had admonished that any person shielding suspected Ebola patients were transgressing the law.

Kargbo verbalized that the admonition had become imperative because there were reports of suspected Ebola patients being obnubilated in the houses of their families.

“Such act engenders a potential risk for the spread of Ebola disease among families and the country at immensely colossal,” he verbalized.

“Members of the public are advised to report any suspected Ebola case to opportune health ascendant entities for timely and felicitous treatment with the view of averting the spread of the disease,” he integrated.

A report from Kailahun verbally expressed the area remained tensed and had come to a standstill.

It verbally expressed that the outbreak had coerced the Ministry of Education to defer the Basic Education certificate examinations.http://excessgist.blogspot.com/2014/06/ebola-kills-46-in-sierra-leone.html

Sen. Chuck Schumer calls on CDC to issue health alert, urges DHS to declare a ‘public emergency’ for chikungunya threat

Mon, Jun 23rd, 2014

 By Robert Herriman

With the World Cup ending next month, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue an immediate health alert for medical professionals in New York and around the country that includes recommendations for identifying, treating and containing Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne virus that is rarely fatal but causes severe fevers, arthritic-like joint paint, muscle pain, headaches, joint swelling and rashes.

Sen. Charles Schumer
Image/US Government

Second, Schumer called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to declare a “public emergency” for the developing threat in the Caribbean and other countries, so that the United States can deploy specific protocols and resources at our borders and elsewhere to prevent the spread of the virus in the U.S.. Schumer said that these protocols would allow federal agencies to take specific actions - like increased inspections at U.S. ports of entry and additional scans of imported food products that could carry mosquitoes - and should be similar to those activated as the swine flu took hold in Mexico in 2009.
“With the large influx of people into and out of Brazil for the World Cup, the painful mosquito-borne virus called Chikungunya could spread rapidly and further increase the number of cases here in the U.S. and New York,” said Schumer. “With three confirmed cases of Chikungunya in New York already, I am calling on the federal government to help contain and prevent the further spread of this virus with by activating protocols similar to those used in 2009 when the Mexican swine flu outbreak threatened to spill over into the United States. I’m urging the CDC to issue a health alert so doctors can first, better identify and treat symptoms and second, educate individuals on how to prevent the spread of Chik-V. Third, the Department of Homeland Security should increase port of entry inspection measures for the virus, and fourth we must boost food inspection to better detect this mosquito.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of June 17, there were 57 imported chikungunya cases in the US, although that number is somewhat higher with new cases reported from states on a daily basis.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported in their weekly /update, 189,055 autochthonous chikungunya cases in the Caribbean. Brazil, the home of the 2014 World Cup, has reported 11 imported cases.'
 http://www.theglobaldispatch.com/sen-chuck-schumer-calls-on-cdc-to-issue-health-alert-urges-dhs-to-declare-a-public-emergency-for-chikungunya-threat-53163

Ebola outbreak in West Africa is deadliest ever

• 25 June 2014

"OUT of control." That is how aid agency Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has described the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

The epidemic, which began in Guinea at the beginning of the year, has spread to 60 locations, including some in Sierra Leone and Liberia. According to the World Health Organization, the virus, which causes fever, diarrhoea and internal bleeding, has infected 567 people, with 350 deaths.

That is a higher death toll than any other outbreak since the virus first infected humans in Africa in 1976. MSF says that people are frightened but view health facilities with suspicion. There is limited understanding that the disease spreads from person to person through body fluids.

If those infected are rehydrated rapidly they can recover, but MSF say it is overextended and can no longer send teams to new outbreaks.

"There are a lot of cases – we are really stretched. My worry is that this is the tip of the iceberg," says Anja Wolz, MSF emergency coordinator. "Education and training are key to stopping this outbreak, so we are telling people what to look for and how they can prevent further spread. There are still a lot of people in the region who don't believe that Ebola exists."

Stopping the disease from spreading further is vitally important. At the moment, the virus is not readily transmissible, but a large outbreak gives it more chances to evolve to spread more easily between humans. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22229751.800-ebola-outbreak-in-west-africa-is-deadliest-ever.html#.U6tHQLGWrSi

Guinean inpatient since last Monday have been negative of the Ebola virus

HEALTH entered in the Faith of Valencia

The analyzes say that the patient does not have Valencia Ebola

• The patient is a Guinean man who came to Valencia on a flight from Morocco

• Stay logged in Hospital La Fe and progressing well

Main entrance of the La Fe Hospital in Valencia. VICENT BOSCH

TERRASA R. Valencia

Updated: 06/25/2014 18:19 pm

0

La Fe Hospital in Valencia has confirmed the results of the samples from the center of microbiology Majadahonda Guinean inpatient since last Monday have been negative of the Ebola virus
As reported by the Valencia center, before the clinical picture presented by the patient proactively activated the reference protocol established by Foreign Health for cases with these symptoms.
The patient, of Guinean origin, had a number of symptoms during a flight from Morocco , as oxygen requirement and nasal bleeding, which raised the suspicion that the crew could be infected by the Ebola virus.
"It was reported from the flight to Foreign Health on the symptoms of the traveler, for your collection and subsequent isolation Infectious service, sampling and shipment to appropriate analysis," explains hospital.
The patient is admitted to the Hospital La Fe and progressing well. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elmundo.es%2Fcomunidad-valenciana%2F2014%2F06%2F25%2F53aaf4b922601db7658b458e.html

Ten more Ebola cases in Liberia

2014-06-25 22:20

Officials wear protective clothing as they prepare to enter a Hospital where an outbreak of Ebola virus started. (Isaac Kasamani, AFP)

Monrovia - Ten new cases of the Ebola virus have been confirmed in Liberia, raising the total to 29, Assistant Health Minister Tolbert Nyensweah said Wednesday.

Fourteen suspected cases have also been discovered, according to the government. In addition, three more people have died from the disease, which thus far has claimed about 20 lives in Liberia. Of the confirmed cases, 21 are in northern Lofa County, while eight are in the capital Monrovia, Nyensweah told dpa.

The Health Ministry has asked the public to inform the authorities about any deaths occurring in homes or backyard clinics before burial. Ebola, which has a fatality rate of 90 per cent, is one of the most contagious viral diseases known.

In March, the virus spread from Guinea to neighbouring Liberia. http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Ten-more-Ebola-cases-in-Liberia-20140625

Sierra LeoneExams cancelled amid Ebola crisis

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Exams cancelled amid Ebola crisis

FREETOWN

The Sierra Leone government has postponed this year’s secondary school exams nationwide as the West African Ebola outbreak further spikes in the country.

The epidemic which is ravaging the three neighbouring countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, is said to be in its second phase after initially slowing down only to re-surge with seemingly uncontrollable intensity.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday put the global death toll since the outbreak in Guinea in February at 350, up from 330 only about two days earlier.

The total cases of infection in the region is 567.

Most of the deaths are in Guinea but the disease is fast growing in Sierra Leone, the UN health body said. Over 70,000 pupils were set to take the West African Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) early July in Sierra Leone. But the government said it would not afford bringing people together amidst the health threat, and it has set August as a tentative date.

The Ministry of Education said it hopes that by that time the epidemic would have been contained enough to allow pupils in the highly effected zones to gather at one place.

But with the outbreak having been declared “out of control”, it is unlikely that this date can be honoured.

The latest government’s figures released on Tuesday showed the death toll has rapidly increased to 39, from about 26 at the end of last week.

However, a leaked document attributed to WHO and published by the bi-weekly Freetown Politico newspaper cast an even more frightening reality of the situation. It indicate 57 deaths.

The document also showed the geographical coverage of the outbreak is far wider than officially acknowledged.

Both the government and WHO are yet to explain the discrepancy. The two, along with those of the other countries, have also been the subjects of criticism by Doctors Without Borders which earlier in the week alleged the UN’s health agency was reluctant to rein in on governments which were yet to fully appreciate the severity of the Ebola epidemic.

MSF, as Doctors Without Borders is also known by its French acronym, called for massive deployment of resources on the ground by both international organisations and governments.

It said the outbreak was in over 60 locations making it impossible for its staff to cover the three countries.

Meanwhile, a regional Health Ministers conference in Conakry by the three countries this week ended with a pledge for “effective and coordinated” response to the outbreak.

WHO is also planning one in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, earlier July.

In the meantime, pressure continues to pile on Sierra Leone in particular which is being blamed for the current spike in cases in the wider region.http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Exams-cancelled-amid-Ebola-crisis/-/1066/2361790/-/jw3gy9z/-/index.html

WHO reduces Ebola death toll in Sierra Leone

By PAUL SCHEMM
Associated PressJ
une 25, 2014 Updated 4 hours ago


RABAT, Morocco — The World Health Organization on Wednesday announced it was changing the way it reports fatalities from the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone at the request of the government.
Previously, probable and suspected deaths from Ebola were included in the count but from now on, only laboratory confirmed cases will be reported, reducing the death toll in Sierra Leone from 58 to 34 as of Tuesday.
The way the deaths are reported in Guinea and Liberia, the other two countries hit by the outbreak, will remain unchanged, said WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib.
"They haven't asked to change their methodology, the only country that decided to change their methodology was Sierra Leone for now," said Chaib.
 Sierra Leone's press had criticized the government for reporting lower death rates than the WHO had initially been reporting.
The change in approach by WHO now brings their figures into line with those of Sierra Leone government.
International organizations have dubbed this the worst Ebola epidemic ever with 599 cases and 338 fatalities in dozens of different sites across the three countries, not only in remote areas, but near major cities.
On Tuesday, the European Commission announced it was committing an additional 500,000 euros in funding to combat the outbreak, bringing its total contribution to 1.9 million euros....

  http://www.macon.com/2014/06/25/3167589/who-reduces-ebola-death-toll-in.html#storylink=cpy

Ebola Viral Disease Outbreak — West Africa, 2014

Early Release

June 24, 2014 / 63(Early Release);1-4

Meredith G. Dixon, MD1,2, Ilana J. Schafer, DVM1,2 (Author affiliations at end of text)

On March 21, 2014, the Guinea Ministry of Health reported the outbreak of an illness characterized by fever, severe diarrhea, vomiting, and a high case-fatality rate (59%) among 49 persons (1). Specimens from 15 of 20 persons tested at Institut Pasteur in Lyon, France, were positive for an Ebola virus by polymerase chain reaction (2). Viral sequencing identified Ebola virus (species Zaïre ebolavirus), one of five viruses in the genus Ebolavirus, as the cause (2). Cases of Ebola viral disease (EVD) were initially reported in three southeastern districts (Gueckedou, Macenta, and Kissidougou) of Guinea and in the capital city of Conakry. By March 30, cases had been reported in Foya district in neighboring Liberia (1), and in May, the first cases identified in Sierra Leone were reported. As of June 18, the outbreak was the largest EVD outbreak ever documented, with a combined total of 528 cases (including laboratory-confirmed, probable, and suspected cases) and 337 deaths (case-fatality rate = 64%) reported in the three countries. The largest previous outbreak occurred in Uganda during 2000–2001, when 425 cases were reported with 224 deaths (case-fatality rate = 53%) (3). The current outbreak also represents the first outbreak of EVD in West Africa (a single case caused by Taï Forest virus was reported in Côte d'Ivoire in 1994 [3]) and marks the first time that Ebola virus transmission has been reported in a capital city.

Characteristics of EVD

EVD is characterized by the sudden onset of fever and malaise, accompanied by other nonspecific signs and symptoms such as myalgia, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea. Among EVD patients, 30%–50% experience hemorrhagic symptoms (4). In severe and fatal forms, multiorgan dysfunction, including hepatic damage, renal failure, and central nervous system involvement occur, leading to shock and death. The first two Ebolavirus species were initially recognized in 1976 during simultaneous outbreaks in Sudan (Sudan ebolavirus) and Zaïre (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) (Zaïre ebolavirus) (5). Since 1976, there have been more than 20 EVD outbreaks across Central Africa, with the majority caused by Ebola virus (species Zaïre ebolavirus), which historically has demonstrated the highest case-fatality rate (up to 90%) (3).
The wildlife reservoir has not been definitively ascertained; however, evidence supports fruit bats as one reservoir (6). The virus initially is spread to the human population after contact with infected wildlife and is then spread person-to-person through direct contact with body fluids such as, but not limited to, blood, urine, sweat, semen, and breast milk. The incubation period is 2–21 days. Patients can transmit the virus while febrile and through later stages of disease, as well as postmortem, when persons contact the body during funeral preparations. Additionally, the virus has been isolated in semen for as many as 61 days after illness onset.
Diagnosis is made most commonly through detection of Ebola virus RNA or Ebola virus antibodies in blood (5). Testing in this outbreak is being performed by Institut Pasteur, the European Mobile Laboratory, and CDC in Guinea; by the Kenema Government Hospital Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory in Sierra Leone; and by the Liberia Institute of Biomedical Research. Patient care is supportive; there is no approved treatment known to be effective against Ebola virus. Clinical support consists of aggressive volume and electrolyte management, oral and intravenous nutrition, and medications to control fever and gastrointestinal distress, as well as to treat pain, anxiety, and agitation (4,5). Diagnosis and treatment of concomitant infections and superinfections, including malaria and typhoid, also are important aspects of patient care (4).
Keys to controlling EVD outbreaks include 1) active case identification and isolation of patients from the community to prevent continued virus spread; 2) identifying contacts of ill or deceased persons and tracking the contacts daily for the entire incubation period of 21 days; 3) investigation of retrospective and current cases to document all historic and ongoing chains of virus transmission; 4) identifying deaths in the community and using safe burial practices; and 5) daily reporting of cases (4,7,8). Education of health-care workers regarding safe infection-control practices, including appropriate use of personal protective equipment, is essential to protect them and their patients because health-care–associated transmission has played a part in transmission during previous outbreaks (4,9).

Efforts to Control the Current Outbreak

To implement prevention and control measures in both Guinea and Liberia, ministries of health with assistance from Médecins Sans Frontières, the World Health Organization, and others, put in place Ebola treatment centers to provide better patient care and interrupt virus transmission. Teams from CDC traveled to Guinea and Liberia at the end of March as part of a response by the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network to assist the respective ministries of health in characterizing and controlling the outbreak through collection of case reports, interviewing of patients and family members, coordination of contact tracing, and consolidation of data into centralized databases. Cases are categorized into one of three case definitions: suspected (alive or dead person with fever and at least three additional symptoms, or fever and a history of contact with a person with hemorrhagic fever or a dead or sick animal, or unexplained bleeding); probable (meets the suspected case definition and has an epidemiologic link to a confirmed or probable case); confirmed (suspected or probable case that also has laboratory confirmation).*
In late April, it appeared that the outbreak was slowing when Liberia did not report new cases for several weeks after April 9, and the number of new reported cases in Guinea decreased to nine for the week of April 27 (Figure 1). Since then, however, the EVD outbreak has resurged, with neighboring Sierra Leone reporting its first laboratory-confirmed case on May 24, Liberia reporting a new case on May 29 that originated in Sierra Leone, and Guinea reporting a new high of 38 cases for the week of May 25.
As of June 18, the total EVD case count reported for all three countries combined was 528, including 364 laboratory-confirmed, 99 probable, and 65 suspected cases, with 337 deaths (case-fatality rate = 64%). Guinea had reported 398 cases (254 laboratory-confirmed, 88 probable, and 56 suspected) with 264 deaths (case-fatality rate = 66%) across nine districts (Figure 1). Sierra Leone had reported 97 cases (92 laboratory-confirmed, three probable, and two suspected) with 49 deaths (case-fatality rate = 51%) across five districts and the capital, Freetown. Liberia had reported 33 cases (18 confirmed, eight probable, and seven suspected) with 24 deaths (case-fatality rate = 73%) across four districts.
Major challenges faced by all partners in the efforts to control the outbreak include its wide geographic spread (Figure 2), weak health-care infrastructures, and community mistrust and resistance (10). Retrospective case investigation has indicated that the first case of EVD might have occurred as early as December 2013 (Figure 1) (2).
To control the outbreak, additional strategies such as involving community leaders in response efforts are needed to alleviate concerns of hesitant and fearful populations so that health-care workers can care for patients in treatment centers and thorough contact tracing can be performed. Enhancing communication across borders with respect to disease surveillance will assist in the control and prevention of more cases in this EVD outbreak.
In June 2014, the World Health Organization, via the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, requested additional support from CDC and other partners, necessitating the deployment of additional staff members to Guinea and Sierra Leone to further coordinate efforts aimed at halting and preventing virus transmission. Persistence of the outbreak necessitates high-level, regional and international coordination to bolster response efforts among involved and neighboring nations and other response partners in order to expeditiously end this outbreak.

Acknowledgments

The West Africa Ebola national and international response teams, including the ministries of health of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone; the World Health Organization; Médecins Sans Frontières; CDC response teams; the United Nations Children's Fund; the International Federation of Red Cross; Institut Pasteur; the European Mobile Laboratory; the Kenema Government Hospital Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory; the Liberia Institute of Biomedical Research; African Field Epidemiology Network; Elizabeth Ervin, Viral Special Pathogens Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm63e0624a2.htm?s_cid=mm63e0624a2_e

Active Fe security protocol to deal with a possible case of Ebola

The symptoms have been detected in a citizen of African origin is isolated in hospital units

06.24.2014 | 20:48

LIFT-EMV.COM Hospital La Fe de Valencia has activated the security protocol for dealing with a possible case of Ebola virus.
The symptoms of this virus have been detected in a citizen of African origin remains isolated units in La Fe hospital staff is maintained around security measures to prevent any kind of infection.http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.levante-emv.com%2Fvalencia%2F2014%2F06%2F24%2Ffe-activa-protocolo-seguridad-frente%2F1129408.html

More from Spain

The patient arrived Monday from a flight to the hospital, which was accessed by the loading dock and not the emergency door. The staff we came into contact with him has been forced to wear special suits to avoid infection. It is a highly contagious and deadly virus. It is the first time the hospital activates the procedure.

  24/06/2014 @ Jlobrador
 The arrival of a patient suspected of having Ebola virus has forced change for the first time and the protocol preemptively against this disease at the Hospital La Fe de Valencia.
The activation occurred Monday night, when a man entered from a flight from an African country. Health workers, ambulance drivers and orderlies who came into contact with the patient had to wear special suits, because this infectious disease is highly contagious and lethal. Sources confirmed to 20minutes center that the Department of Health activated Monday dawn "preventively action protocol in suspected Ebola virus. This is a patient whose clinical picture could correspond to the disease, although not yet is confirmed or ruled out. " The same sources added that doctors are "waiting for the test results, which have been sent to be analyzed. Till then can not be confirmed or denied the case," they are asking for "prudence".

Other sources say the patient was entered into the hospital by the loading dock and not the emergency door. Possible infected Tuesday was "clinically stable" in an isolation area with important safety and hygiene awaiting the results of the analyzes carried out by doctors at the hospital measures. The Hospital La Fe is the reference health center of Valencia and one of the most important in Spain. After 40 years in the old facilities in the Valencia neighborhood of Campana, in late 2010 he moved to a new modern complex Malilla, south of the city of Valencia.

Ver m�s en: http://translate.googleusercontent.c...-15&xts=467263

Avatar Journalist J. L. OBRADOR JL OBRADOR 24/06/2014 @ Jlobrador The arrival of a patient suspected of having Ebola virus has forced change for the first time and the protocol preemptively against this disease at the Hospital La Fe de Valencia. The activation occurred Monday night, when a man entered from a flight from an African country. Health workers, ambulance drivers and orderlies who came into contact with the patient had to wear special suits, because this infectious disease is highly contagious and lethal. Sources confirmed to 20minutes center that the Department of Health activated Monday dawn "preventively action protocol in suspected Ebola virus. This is a patient whose clinical picture could correspond to the disease, although not yet is confirmed or ruled out. " The same sources added that doctors are "waiting for the test results, which have been sent to be analyzed. Till then can not be confirmed or denied the case," they are asking for "prudence". Other sources say the patient was entered into the hospital by the loading dock and not the emergency door. Possible infected Tuesday was "clinically stable" in an isolation area with important safety and hygiene awaiting the results of the analyzes carried out by doctors at the hospital measures. The Hospital La Fe is the reference health center of Valencia and one of the most important in Spain. After 40 years in the old facilities in the Valencia neighborhood of Campana, in late 2010 he moved to a new modern complex Malilla, south of the city of Valencia.

Ver m�s en: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/2175883/0/virus-ebola/protocolo-hospital/valencia/&usg=ALkJrhhJLDtwWgni7gksxmbtfFP-u4Jxpw#xtor=AD-15&xts=467263

Avatar Journalist J. L. OBRADOR JL OBRADOR 24/06/2014 @ Jlobrador The arrival of a patient suspected of having Ebola virus has forced change for the first time and the protocol preemptively against this disease at the Hospital La Fe de Valencia. The activation occurred Monday night, when a man entered from a flight from an African country. Health workers, ambulance drivers and orderlies who came into contact with the patient had to wear special suits, because this infectious disease is highly contagious and lethal. Sources confirmed to 20minutes center that the Department of Health activated Monday dawn "preventively action protocol in suspected Ebola virus. This is a patient whose clinical picture could correspond to the disease, although not yet is confirmed or ruled out. " The same sources added that doctors are "waiting for the test results, which have been sent to be analyzed. Till then can not be confirmed or denied the case," they are asking for "prudence". Other sources say the patient was entered into the hospital by the loading dock and not the emergency door. Possible infected Tuesday was "clinically stable" in an isolation area with important safety and hygiene awaiting the results of the analyzes carried out by doctors at the hospital measures. The Hospital La Fe is the reference health center of Valencia and one of the most important in Spain. After 40 years in the old facilities in the Valencia neighborhood of Campana, in late 2010 he moved to a new modern complex Malilla, south of the city of Valencia.

Ver m�s en: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/2175883/0/virus-ebola/protocolo-hospital/valencia/&usg=ALkJrhhJLDtwWgni7gksxmbtfFP-u4Jxpw#xtor=AD-15&xts=467263

Health in Valencia active protocol performance against a possible case of Ebola

abc @ ABC_CValenciana / VALENCIA

Day 24/6/2014 - 8:58 p.m.

The patient is admitted and "clinically stable" in hospital La Fe

MIKEL PONCE

The Ministry of Health has reported that in the early hours of yesterday triggered "preventively" action protocol in suspected Ebola virus in a patient admitted and remains "clinically stable" in the isolation area of the Hospital La Fe Valencia.

Sources have indicated the Department in a statement that it is a patient whose clinical picture "could correspond to that disease", although they have yet nuanced "is neither confirmed nor ruled out."

Health is awaiting the results of tests that have been sent to be analyzed and, until then, said, "can not be confirmed or denied the case."

The Department of Health has called for "prudence and not cause social alarm to a suspicion of a possible disease," the statement said. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.es%2Flocal-comunidad-valenciana%2F20140624%2Fabci-sanidad-ebola-201406242031.html

Ebola notes by WHO Spokesperson

Report

from World Health Organization

Published on 24 Jun 2014

As of 23 June, In total 599 cases of Ebola virus disease and 369 deaths have been reported across the three countries( Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone).
Guinea: 390 cases of Ebola virus disease and 270 deaths
Liberia: 51 cases of Ebola virus disease and 33 deaths
Sierra Leone: 158 cases of Ebola virus disease and 66 deaths .
New development:

• WHO and its partners continue to provide the necessary technical expertise to the Ministries of Health to stop community and health facility transmission of the virus.
• This includes, among others, a high-level advocacy meeting with the governments of the three affected countries to enhance coordination, information management, and communication. The WHO Regional Director, in consultation with the Director General, has established a temporary function of WHO sub-regional EVD outbreak response Coordinator to directly support the affected countries. The Coordinator will be based in Conakry, Guinea.
• In addition, WHO is planning a high-level meeting for the Ministers of Health in the sub-region to be held 2–3 July in Accra, Ghana, with the objective of ensuring increased political commitment and cross-border collaboration for EVD response activities among the countries in the sub-region.
• WHO, GOARN, and other partners are also closely supporting the Ministries of Health in deploying additional experts in the various specialities (epidemiology, social mobilization, case management, data management, and logistics, among others) to support the EVD outbreak response efforts.

Ebola out of control?
MSF and WHO work hand in hand to contain the outbreak , including in isolation wards. We share their concerns and frustrations. Much work has been done by the countries themselves, international partners ( including WHO and MSF) to contain it and much still needs to be done.
WHO is concerned as the outbreak continues to spread. Population movement across borders increase the potential for rapid spread of Ebola to new areas, there is a need for international coordination and collaboration.
More than 100 public health experts are working with WHO and its Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) partners, assisting ministries of health and other partners in the 3 countries. This work includes supporting clinical management of patients, contact tracing, disease surveillance, laboratory work, logistics, as well as communications ( including social mobilisation) and sharing of information to help people protect themselves from the disease.
This is a complex outbreak involving multiple locations in 3 countries with a lot of cross-border movement among the communities. The large number of cases in a large city such as Conakry, and the new cases near Monrovia, makes this one of the most challenging Ebola outbreaks ever.

The Ebola outbreak is not over. New cases appear daily in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
WHO is working with a range of partners to contain the outbreak. The outbreak will be considered over in a country after 42 days (2 incubation periods) have passed without a confirmed case (precisely, 42 days since that last confirmed case is placed in isolation – so that s/he cannot infect others).
In addition to caring for current patients, new infections must be prevented in order to contain the outbreak. Raising awareness of the risk factors for infection and the protective measures that should be taken is the only way to stop transmission and subsequent deaths. Close unprotected physical contact with Ebola patients should be avoided, and those who have died from the disease should be promptly and safely buried.
This is the first time an Ebola outbreak has spread across borders to 3 countries making it the largest geographical spread of Ebola and the deadliest outbreak with 599 cases, including 369 deaths as of June 23. The previous largest outbreak occurred in Gulu, Uganda in 2000 with a total of 425 cases, including 224 deaths. So far, this is not the longest running Ebola outbreak.,.. http://reliefweb.int/report/guinea/ebola-notes-who-spokesperson
 

Middle East flu, health declarations applied at 3 airports

 - From 0 hrs on 01.07.2014, at 3 international airports of Noi Bai, Da Nang, and Tan Son Nhat will apply for medical declarations to all passengers on entry to Vietnam flights derived from 9 countries in the Middle East are circulating respiratory syndrome in the Middle East due to corona virus (MERS-CoV) in time to prevent the disease from entering Vietnam.  http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fvietnamnet.vn%2Fvn%2Fxa-hoi%2F182632%2Fphong-cum-trung-dong--ap-dung-to-khai-y-te-tai-3-san-bay.html

Mid-East visitors face health check in Vietnam

 24-06-2014

Vietnam's Ministry of Health will require all passengers entering Vietnam from nine Middle East countries to fill in a medical declaration form at airports from July 1.

This is part of measures to cope with the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that has caused an increasing number of fatalities around the world.

Deputy Head of the ministry's Department of Preventive Medicine Tran Dac Phu said at an online meeting on disease prevention and control yesterday that there was a high risk the coronavirus could enter Vietnam from the Middle East.

He said Vietnam was so far free of the disease.

The declaration form will apply to those arriving from Saudi Arabia, Qata, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan and Iran.

The forms will be available at Vietnam's three international airports, Tan Son Nhat in HCM City, Noi Bai in Ha Noi and Da Nang in the central city of Da Nang.

Centres for Health Quarantine in the same three cities will distribute the forms to passengers from the Middle East.

Health quarantine staff will examine the declaration forms. If any passengers have fever, are coughing or have breathing difficulties, health workers will request them to stay in isolation.

According to the World Health Organisation statistics, by June 16, about 700 people from 22 Middle East nations had been diagnosed with MERS-CoV, including 249 deaths.

MERS is viral respiratory illness first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. It is caused by a coronavirus called MERS-CoV.

Most people who have the infection develop severe acute respiratory illness accompanied by fever, coughing and shortness of breath. http://www.asianewsnet.net/news-61620.html

Middle East flu, health declarations applied at 3 airports

- From 0 hrs on 01.07.2014, at 3 international airports of Noi Bai, Da Nang, and Tan Son Nhat will apply for medical declarations to all passengers on entry to Vietnam flights derived from 9 countries in the Middle East are circulating respiratory syndrome in the Middle East due to corona virus (MERS-CoV) in time to prevent the disease from entering Vietnam.

Middle East flu, health declarations applied at 3 airports

- From 0 hrs on 01.07.2014, at 3 international airports of Noi Bai, Da Nang, and Tan Son Nhat will apply for medical declarations to all passengers on entry to Vietnam flights derived from 9 countries in the Middle East are circulating respiratory syndrome in the Middle East due to corona virus (MERS-CoV) in time to prevent the disease from entering Vietnam.

Middle East flu, health declarations applied at 3 airports

- From 0 hrs on 01.07.2014, at 3 international airports of Noi Bai, Da Nang, and Tan Son Nhat will apply for medical declarations to all passengers on entry to Vietnam flights derived from 9 countries in the Middle East are circulating respiratory syndrome in the Middle East due to corona virus (MERS-CoV) in time to prevent the disease from entering Vietnam.

Ebola, snakes and witchcraft: Stopping the deadly disease in its tracks in West Africa

Published: 24 June 2014 15:06 CET

• 
• 
• 

• 1
• 2
• 3

By Cristina Estrada, IFRC

They call him by his surname, Konneh. His manners are gentle and his voice calm. He is a volunteer with the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, always willing to help. Although he lives in Kenema, he comes from Daru, one of the villages most affected by the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Sierra Leone.

His uncle and his uncle’s wife have both died of Ebola. First, they brought his uncle to Kenema, a two hour drive from Daru where the treatment centre for Ebola patients is located. He died. Two days later they brought his aunt.  She also died. “His wife was a nurse. My uncle got it from his wife,” Konneh says calmly. His cousin also died.

“When health workers start dying from Ebola, the entire health care system is affected. Doctors and nurses are afraid to go to work or to treat patients, which is what we are seeing in Sierra Leone at the moment,” says Amanda McClelland, senior emergency health officer at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). “However, with proper training and by taking adequate precautions, health care workers can safely treat Ebola patients. And it is proven that the sooner treatment can start, the greater the chances of survival.”

Most of the people affected by Ebola in Sierra Leone are women as they are the ones who take care of sick family members and relatives. They are also the ones who care for the body of a person who has died, which is highly infectious if not dealt properly handled.

Overcoming fear, denial and stigma

“I’m scared. Ebola, it’s dangerous. People are saying Ebola does not exist but I’ve seen it. I believe it exists,” Konneh says. There is a lot of fear, denial and stigma attached to the highly contagious disease, as it is the first time it has appeared in Sierra Leone. Some communities are not letting authorities or humanitarian actors enter, while many of those who may have come into contact with the virus and need to be watched, disappear and are, therefore, unable to be traced.

Some believe that Ebola is caused by witchcraft.

One of the most widespread stories related to the Ebola outbreak is this: A woman in a village went on a journey and left at home a box, instructing her husband not to open it. The husband opens the box and finds a snake inside, which informs the husband not to reveal his presence or else the snake will kill everyone in the village. The husband does not heed the warning and spreads the word about the snake’s presence. The snake goes on a killing spree.

Another story that has gained traction around Kenema is that of the doctors in the isolation ward administering lethal injections to people. In the eyes of villagers, this explains why people never come back from the isolation centre.

“If people believe Ebola is real, we can control it. The common people, the illiterate, they only believe in what they see,” Konneh explains.

For those who do accept that Ebola is a real disease, they believe it is fatal and, as a result, do not see the reason for seeking healthcare when they have symptoms. However, to date, ten people have survived Ebola and been discharged from the hospital in Kenema and are back home with their families. “An increase in awareness raising and outreach to communities will be effective in dispelling erroneous stories and beliefs,” McClelland highlights. “Fighting stigma, changing behaviour and seeking hospital care as soon as possible are the key elements to fighting Ebola.”

At the age of 21, Konneh is no stranger to fatalities. He joined the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society four years ago. His father, a regional imam who played an important role in his village, was taken and killed during a time of conflict, along with his  grandfather. “The Red Cross came to my village and took care of us. When they asked who wanted to be a volunteer, I said yes.” Today, it is his turn to help take care of others.

IFRC has released 227,336 Swiss francs from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to support the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society in responding to the Ebola outbreak. Activities focus largely on educating communities on how they can protect themselves and help prevent the spread of the Ebola virus disease. Similar emergency operations have been launched in Guinea and Liberia. Preparedness operations are underway in Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Senegal in the event the virus begins to spread even further.

- See more at: http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/africa/sierra-leone/ebola-snakes-and-witchcraft-stopping-the-deadly-disease-in-its-tracks-in-west-africa-66215/#sthash.ljrmTqEt.dpuf

Ebola, snakes and witchcraft: Stopping the deadly disease in its tracks in West Africa

Published: 24 June 2014 15:06 CET

• 
• 
• 

• 1
• 2
• 3

By Cristina Estrada, IFRC

They call him by his surname, Konneh. His manners are gentle and his voice calm. He is a volunteer with the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, always willing to help. Although he lives in Kenema, he comes from Daru, one of the villages most affected by the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Sierra Leone.

His uncle and his uncle’s wife have both died of Ebola. First, they brought his uncle to Kenema, a two hour drive from Daru where the treatment centre for Ebola patients is located. He died. Two days later they brought his aunt.  She also died. “His wife was a nurse. My uncle got it from his wife,” Konneh says calmly. His cousin also died.

“When health workers start dying from Ebola, the entire health care system is affected. Doctors and nurses are afraid to go to work or to treat patients, which is what we are seeing in Sierra Leone at the moment,” says Amanda McClelland, senior emergency health officer at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). “However, with proper training and by taking adequate precautions, health care workers can safely treat Ebola patients. And it is proven that the sooner treatment can start, the greater the chances of survival.”

Most of the people affected by Ebola in Sierra Leone are women as they are the ones who take care of sick family members and relatives. They are also the ones who care for the body of a person who has died, which is highly infectious if not dealt properly handled.

Overcoming fear, denial and stigma

“I’m scared. Ebola, it’s dangerous. People are saying Ebola does not exist but I’ve seen it. I believe it exists,” Konneh says. There is a lot of fear, denial and stigma attached to the highly contagious disease, as it is the first time it has appeared in Sierra Leone. Some communities are not letting authorities or humanitarian actors enter, while many of those who may have come into contact with the virus and need to be watched, disappear and are, therefore, unable to be traced.

Some believe that Ebola is caused by witchcraft.

One of the most widespread stories related to the Ebola outbreak is this: A woman in a village went on a journey and left at home a box, instructing her husband not to open it. The husband opens the box and finds a snake inside, which informs the husband not to reveal his presence or else the snake will kill everyone in the village. The husband does not heed the warning and spreads the word about the snake’s presence. The snake goes on a killing spree.

Another story that has gained traction around Kenema is that of the doctors in the isolation ward administering lethal injections to people. In the eyes of villagers, this explains why people never come back from the isolation centre.

“If people believe Ebola is real, we can control it. The common people, the illiterate, they only believe in what they see,” Konneh explains.

For those who do accept that Ebola is a real disease, they believe it is fatal and, as a result, do not see the reason for seeking healthcare when they have symptoms. However, to date, ten people have survived Ebola and been discharged from the hospital in Kenema and are back home with their families. “An increase in awareness raising and outreach to communities will be effective in dispelling erroneous stories and beliefs,” McClelland highlights. “Fighting stigma, changing behaviour and seeking hospital care as soon as possible are the key elements to fighting Ebola.”

At the age of 21, Konneh is no stranger to fatalities. He joined the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society four years ago. His father, a regional imam who played an important role in his village, was taken and killed during a time of conflict, along with his  grandfather. “The Red Cross came to my village and took care of us. When they asked who wanted to be a volunteer, I said yes.” Today, it is his turn to help take care of others.

IFRC has released 227,336 Swiss francs from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to support the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society in responding to the Ebola outbreak. Activities focus largely on educating communities on how they can protect themselves and help prevent the spread of the Ebola virus disease. Similar emergency operations have been launched in Guinea and Liberia. Preparedness operations are underway in Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Senegal in the event the virus begins to spread even further.

- See more at: http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/africa/sierra-leone/ebola-snakes-and-witchcraft-stopping-the-deadly-disease-in-its-tracks-in-west-africa-66215/#sthash.ljrmTqEt.dpuf