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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

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

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

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
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


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

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

Sanidad activa en Valencia el protocolo de actuación ante un posible caso del Ébola
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

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

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 virus disease, West Africa – update 23 June 2014


Guinea

Between 18 and 20 June 2014, there were no new cases of Ebola virus disease, but 3 deaths were reported from Gueckedou (0 cases and 2 deaths) and Telimele (0 case and 1 death). This brings the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported from Guinea to 390 (260 confirmed, 87 probable, and 43 suspected) and 270 deaths.

The geographical distribution of these cases and deaths is as follows: Conakry, 65 cases and 33 deaths; Gueckedou, 226 cases and 177 deaths; Macenta, 41 cases and 28 deaths; Dabola, 4 cases and 4 deaths; Kissidougou, 6 cases and 5 deaths; Dinguiraye, 1 case and 1 death; Telimele, 25 cases and 9 deaths; Boffa, 21 cases and 12 deaths; and Kouroussa, 1 case and 1 death. Currently, 19 patients are in EVD Treatment Centres in Conakry (9), Gueckedou (9), and Telimele (1).
The number of contacts currently being followed-up countrywide is 1147 and are distributed as follows: Conakry, 196; Gueckedou, 520; Macenta, 29; Telimele, 70; Dubreka, 118; Kouroussa 16; and Boffa, 198. So far 73% (3098 contacts completed the follow-up period out of 4245 contacts registered since the beginning of the outbreak) have completed the mandatory 21-day observation period.

Sierra Leone

Between 18 and 20 June 2014, there were no new cases in Sierra Leone, but 4 new deaths were reported from Kailahun (0 cases and 3 deaths) and Kenema (0 new cases and 1 death). This brings the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported from Sierra Leone to 158 (147 confirmed, 8 probable, and 3 suspected) and 34 deaths from confirmed cases.

The geographical distribution of these cases and deaths is as follows: Kailahun, 135 cases and 32 deaths; Kambia, 1 case and 0 deaths; Port Loko, 2 cases and 0 deaths; Kenema, 19 cases and 2 deaths; and Western, 1 case and 0 deaths. Currently, 52 patients are in EVD Treatment Centres in Kenema (12) and Kailahun (40). 

The number of contacts currently being followed-up countrywide is 37 from Kailahun. Community health workers are being trained to do follow-up and contact listing is continuing in Kenema, Kailahun, Kambia, and Port Loko.

Liberia

Between 19 and 22 June 2014, a total of 10 new cases and 8 new deaths were reported from Lofa (8 cases and 6 deaths) and Montserrado (2 cases and 2 deaths). This brings the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported from Liberia to 51 (34 confirmed, 10 probable, and 7 suspected) and 34 deaths.

The geographical distribution of these cases and deaths is as follows: Lofa, 36 cases and 21 deaths; Montserrado, 11 cases and 11 deaths; Margibi, 2 cases and 2 deaths; and Nimba, 2 cases and 0 deaths. Currently, 15 patients are in the EVD Treatment Centre in Lofa. 

The number of contacts currently being followed-up countrywide is 232 and are distributed as follows: Lofa, 112 and Montserrado, 120. So far, 40.7% (159 completed the follow-up period out of a 391 contacts registered since the beginning of the outbreak) have completed the mandatory 21-day observation period.

WHO response

WHO and partners are providing the necessary technical support to the Ministries of Health to stop community and health facility transmission of the virus. This includes a high-level advocacy meeting with the governments of the three affected countries to enhance coordination, information management, and communication, among others.
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 is based in Conakry, Guinea.
In addition, WHO is organizing a high-level meeting for the Ministers of Health in the sub-region, technical experts and key stakeholders to be held from 2 to 3 July 2014 in Accra, Ghana. The objective is to ensure increased political commitment and enhanced 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.
The next cross-border technical meeting among the three countries is planned for 23 June 2014 in Kailahun, Sierra Leone. 

WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone based on the current information available for this event
. http://www.afro.who.int/en/clusters-a-programmes/dpc/epidemic-a-pandemic-alert-and-response/outbreak-news/4172-ebola-virus-disease-west-africa-23-june-2014.html

Guinea Extends Humanitarian Gesture to Sierra Leone in the Fight against the Ebola Viral Disease


Minister of Health and Sanitation, Miatta Kargbo

Press Release
The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Miatta Kargbo and Team has concluded a one day Mano River Union (MRU) Ministers of Health Meeting in Conakry, Guinea to strengthen collaboration, communication and coordination in the fight against the spread of the Ebola disease.  The meeting which attracted the four countries Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast resolved for a planned cross-border meetings at Geukedu in Guinea, and Kailahun in Sierra Leone.

Plans are also underway for a West African Regional Meeting to be held in Accra, Ghana following deliberations from the Conakry MRU Meeting and the concerns of governments in the West African sub region to contain the disease.
 Meanwhile, the government of Guinea has in a way of sisterly solidarity made an invaluable gesture to the government and people of Sierra Leone with the donation of Personal Protective Equipment, Chlorine, Sanitizers and other necessary items to demonstrate their solidarity and commitment to the task.  Main highlights of the meeting were the signing of the Conakry Declaration of Commitment by Member States to address the prevailing situation. http://www.salonemonitor.net/guinea-extends-humanitarian-gesture-to-sierra-leone-in-the-fight-against-the-ebola-viral-disease/

Sierra Leone News : Daru Parliamentarian Praises Sylvia Blyden


By Augustine Samba
Jun 20, 2014, 17:18


Sequel to the death toll and carnage of the Ebola Disease, Honorable Member for Constituency 06, Hon. Moiwa  Momoh has on Wednesday 18th June 2014 showered praises on Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden whilst addressing his people inside Daru Court Barray. The Parliamentarian was speaking as he donated Chlorine and materials to combat Ebola; all purchased by Kailahun descendants living in America.

Whilst Paramount Chief, chiefdom elders, authorities, women, youths, volunteers and other stakeholders expressed thanks to kinsmen in America, what came out clearly was that the items were the first ever to be supplied to the community people since the outbreak of the Ebola Disease. Learning that this was the first ever donation of Chlorine to the community, caused the honourable parliamentarian to openly shed tears in Daru.

Hon. Moiwa Momoh did not mince his words as he said the manner in which his people had been treated was a cause for concern.

The Daru P.C. Kallon II says with the emergency at hand, he has no time to mourn his wife and is out on the road sensitising his chiefdom. Shown here with Hon. Moiwa Momoh

“If really the ministry of health was ready to fight Ebola, basic Chlorine would have been inundated in many chiefdoms in Kailahun especially at a time like this,” he said as tears ran down his face adding that “Infact the situation in Jawei is better than in Kissi Teng where lots of people have died in silence in their villages without any rescue from anywhere”.

The MP then lauded Dr. Sylvia Blyden for being so patriotic to her Kissi Teng and other Kailahun compatriots in the face of “rudeness” that she was faced with. He said because of Dr. Blyden’s strong and unshakeable stance in giving an unrelenting “truthful” publicity about Ebola death toll and the difficulties faced by the people of Kailahun, “I will say it was she who drew the attention of the whole world to the Ebola situation in Kailahun”. However, he lamented that in the process, “she has also drawn the wrath of those who don’t mean well for us here”.

“Because she was fighting for us, she is now in serious conflict with some in the government but may God protect her and may God bless her for what she did,” Hon. Moiwa Momoh told his people. 

A special lab technician sent by Dr. Abdul Kamara of Central Reference Laboratory in Freetown, Mr. Ahmed Foray Samba showed residents especially community volunteers, on how to use the Chlorine, plastic buckets and other safety protective gears. Ahmed Samba also taught them to use donated Megaphones to sensitize from village to village. He comprehensively lectured on the dreadful nature and calamity of Ebola.

In his statement, businessman Mohamed Ibrahim Jawara, nephew of Chief Imam of Daru who died from Ebola, said more donation is expected very soon from those living in London. He called on his people to have faith in God and not lose hope.

Paramount Chief Musa Ngoumbuklah Kallon II who lost his beloved wife and child to Ebola, said the situation was now better than in early days when his people had been all but abandoned by many in authority. He thanked government for ensuring MSF has now built an Ebola center in Daru. He also made an appeal for food aid for his frightened chiefdom.http://news.sl/drwebsite/publish/article_200525612.shtml

Sierra Leone-Ebola Strikes Kenema Hospital

ebolainkenema
The deputy matron at the government hospital in Kenema Josephine Finda Sellu has called on the government and Non Governmental Organizations to immediately come to the aid of the District Health Management Team (DHMT) in Kenema to deal with the Ebola virus in the country.
 She made this appeal while speaking to the press at her office at the government hospital compound. She says since May 25th 2014 when the Ebola issue broke out in the eastern part of the country, they as health workers have suffered a lot in trying to handle the situation. She explained that the first index case that came in to the country by passing through Sokoma village bordering with Guinea killed the MCHAID nurse that played with the first case at Koindu Kissy Teng chiefdom in Kailahun district. She passed away in Daru town after contracting the disease, and the Traditional Birth Attendance (TBA) who took care of the MCHAID in Daru was brought to Kenema, and she came in with incomplete abortion. She was in the ward for some days and the nurses later detected continuous bleeding on her. Her blood sample she explained was immediately collected and later proved to be Ebola positive as the first case collected in the ward.
The second case was picked at Annex ward after the nurses have played with the first ward case and the third case was also picked up at ward two – all proved to be Ebola positive.

She further revealed that four (4) health workers have lost their lives as a result of the Ebola virus.
The Matron disclosed that the Ebola management centre that has been under construction is completed and commissioned, and can now host up to thirty (30) beds. She said the center is going to be managed by health workers whom she said have little ideas about Ebola virus management, explaining that the nurses lack knowledge on handling the Ebola infection, how to suspect and how to manage the cases. She described the condition as unfortunate as the health workers at the case management side are at high risk.
She thanked Tulane University for slightly throwing in some assistance by training some health workers like the doctors, matron and lab superintendent in the management of Ebola cases, and later gave similar training to 17 nurses, but she says the number is too small as compared to the influx of patients to the hospital. Thirty beds for 17 nurses are not enough for the pressure of work available at the management centre she complained.
She says most of the confirmed cases in Kenema were picked up from the wards and she is therefore calling for the immediate training of the entire health workers in the region and the nation as a whole as Kenema is the centre of excellence for Ebola in the sub region.
The Matron says the World Health Organization (WHO) representative sent to Kenema Dr. Tum from Geneva has also expressed the need for all health workers to be knowledgeable about the Ebola virus, cautioning that “if not it will be disastrous for the nation.”
She disclosed that a tent has been erected at the entrance of the government hospital compound to screen everybody entering the hospital.
She is also requesting for more Personal Protective Equipment (EPP), risk allowances and some incentives to staff managing the Ebola management centre because of the work load involved. She paid special tribute to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) for their role in helping the situation.
She also called on the general public to maintain universal precaution, as Ebola is real by going along with health advice.
It has been observed that most of the health workers at the government hospital in Kenema are abandoning the hospital for fear of being allocated to the Ebola management centre which one of them told me, is risky and there is no incentive that can give cause to someone to take the risk. http://www.critiqueecho.com/?p=5574

Sierra Leone -IT mogul Leads Ebola Fight in the North

  • Written by  Abdul Fonti
An Information Technology (IT) mogul and international businessman, Momoh Konteh, is currently leading the fight against the deadly ebola virus in the northern region of the country. The New People Online Newspaper has just learnt that the philanthropist donated ten million leones (Le10,000,000) plus ten drums of chlorine

and gloves to intensify the ebola campaign in the Koinadugu District.
This donation was made over the weekend at a very big meeting held at the Kabala Community Center. The district meeting attracted various stakeholders including at least eight paramount chiefs, members of parliament, minister of finance, minister of tourism, deputy minister of finance, district medical team, district council officials, police, office of national security, civil society representatives, inter religious council representatives, political parties representatives, and market women among others.  
Although the businessman led the donation, he was not the only person or organization that made donations to combat the disease. The minister of finance donated two million leones (Le2,000,000), minister of tourism two million leones (Le2,000,000), parliamentarians three million leones in cash and pledges, and Koinadugu District Development Committee two million leones in pledge.
A Koinadugu District task force for Ebola, chaired by the district medical officer, was formed at the meeting.
The task force is charged with the responsibility to sensitize various communities in that part of the country plus training chiefdom volunteers in ebola response.
Last modified on
 http://www.thenewpeople.com/national-news/northern-province-news/item/2854-momoh-konteh-leads-ebola-fight-in-the-north

Men who Died Allegedly Infected by Bird Flu in market in East Jakarta

Tuesday, 24/06/2014 16:38 pm

Nala Edwin - detikNews
Jakarta - RA (33), a resident of Cakung, East Jakarta died of bird flu. The deceased was allegedly attacked by the deadly virus of poultry in the market in East Jakarta.

"Learned possible risk factors are environmental contacts in one market in East Jakarta, where the case of direct purchase live chickens slaughtered in the market on May 27, 2014," the Ministry of Health in a press release on Tuesday (06/24/2014).

RA died after undergoing a treatment. On June 14, he passed away at a private hospital in East Jakarta. Parties Ministry of Health and related agencies then find out where to get bird flu victim.

"Epidemiological investigations have been carried into the homes of people and the environment by Integrated Team Ministry of Health of Indonesia, Jakarta Health Department, East Jakarta Health Agency, Health Center Pulogebang, Cakung Health Center, Center for Veterinary Research (Bbalitvet), Marine and Agriculture Binas DKI Jakarta, Sub East Jakarta Livestock and Fishery, Animal and Fish Health centers DKI, "said kemenkes.

Result checking is also known that the victim's home environment clean, no poultry in the complex.

"The house is adjacent to the township case tenement, but there is no population that raise chickens, there are only 2 who keep birds in cages suspended from the home page," the Ministry of Health closed. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.detik.com%2Fread%2F2014%2F06%2F24%2F163855%2F2617966%2F10%2Fpria-yang-meninggal-terserang-flu-burung-diduga-tertular-di-pasar-di-jakarta-timur%3F9922022

Sunday, June 22, 2014

,,Bart Janssens, director of operations for Doctors without Borders, said that they are at the limit of their ability to cope with the situation and requested international support and more medical staff. He added, “The reality is clear that the epidemic is now in a second wave, and, for me, it is totally out of control.”
With only 40 medical staff in just four treatment centers, his organization has reached the limits of its capability. “There needs to be a real political commitment that this is a very big emergency,” he said, “otherwise, it will continue to spread, and for sure it will spread to more countries.”
Janssens accused the countries involved of not recognizing that the situation was so disastrous, and criticized the WHO for not doing enough to get the local authorities to take more action. The WHO did not respond immediately, but a spokeswoman said earlier that the fact that the Ebola virus had taken hold in so many locations and countries made this Ebola outbreak one of the most challenging outbreaks they had ever encountered...
http://www.inquisitr.com/1313616/ebola-virus-is-out-of-control-say-doctors-highest-death-toll-ever/

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1313616/ebola-virus-is-out-of-control-say-doctors-highest-death-toll-ever/#Gp7XRiYzsMxmBMqd.99

Ebola virus kills eighth person in two weeks in Monrovia, Liberia


Eighth person in the span of two weeks dies in Monrovia, Liberia, from Ebola virus outbreak.
By Danielle Haynes   |   June 22, 2014 at 3:23 PM

MONROVIA, Liberia, June 22 (UPI) --Liberia's Ministry of Health and Social Welfare confirmed an eighth person in the span of two weeks has died of the Ebola virus in the country's capital of Monrovia.
The announcement came a week after the country's health minister and the World Health Organization said the deadly haemorrhagic fever killed seven people in the city in the span of a weekend.
The death toll from the outbreak in western Africa rose to 528 as of Wednesday, with 398 in Guinea, 97 in Sierra Leone and 33 in Liberia.
No vaccine or cure currently exists for the flu-like virus, which causes fever with chills, joint pain, muscle pain and chest pain.
Since it was first discovered in 1976, the disease has infected fewer than 2,000 people, mostly in the tropical regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. It resides in infected pigs, monkeys and fruit bats, and can be transferred to humans.
In some cases there is up to a 90 percent mortality rate. The mortality rate of the current outbreak is a bit more than 50 percent. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/06/22/Ebola-virus-kills-eighth-person-in-two-weeks-in-Monrovia-Liberia/6991403464135/

Ebola Outbreak 'Tip of the Iceberg,' Experts Say



First published June 22nd 2014, 12:03 pm
An "out of control" outbreak of Ebola in West Africa that’s being called the deadliest ever is far from over and it’s likely to get worse before it gets better, experts predict.
And health workers who have been fighting the outbreak, which spans three countries and has killed more than 300 people, say they are certain many cases are going unreported as they see gruesome infections, dangerous myths and people fleeing the virus, potentially spreading it further. 

Dr. Mwayabo Kazadi, from the health unit for Catholic Relief Services, agreed that many cases could go uncounted and undiagnosed in the region, where Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia come together.
“When you don’t have a proper health system in place, it is pretty difficult,” Kazadi said.
Garry says team members arrived in at least one village to find it deserted, and the body of an Ebola victim left unattended in a house. It’s not hard to imagine what happened, but it makes it impossible to track down people who might have been infected and get them to hospitals for what care can be provided, and to prevent them from infecting others.
A Doctors Without Borders official said Friday that the outbreak was out of control.
And the numbers make it clear this is the biggest outbreak yet of Ebola since the virus was first identified in 1976. The virus, which causes a particularly nasty form of hemorrhagic fever, has killed 337 people out of 528 infected.
“This is the biggest outbreak we have ever actually seen of Ebola,” Kazadi said. “It’s the biggest both in numbers and in terms of geography,” Garry agreed.

Image: Jonathan Paye-Layleh / AP
Empty hospital beds are seen at Redemption hospital after nurses and patients fled the hospital due to Ebola deaths in Monrovia, Liberia, Tuesday, June 17, 2014.

The biggest outbreak affected 425 people in Uganda in 2000, killing 224 of them.
Ebola is spread in bodily fluids, and the worst stages of the disease make that frighteningly easy. “People are throwing up. They have diarrhea,” Garry said. Patients can develop tiny blood hemorrhages on their skin and in their eyes.
At least a dozen women were infected by a healer, probably as they washed and kissed her body when she died of Ebola and they were preparing her for her funeral. The case illustrates just why this outbreak is so difficult to fight.
The healer, who used snakes as part of her practice, made some frightening and dire predictions from her death bed. “She said she was going to release the snakes and said anybody who saw the snakes would die the way she did,” Garry said.
This frightened some of the people in her village, and they attacked some volunteers from Garry’s team, throwing rocks at their vehicle.

Image: Liberians combat spread of Ebola AHMED JALLANZO / EPA
UNICEF field workers educate villagers on the prevention of Ebola disease in Liberia.

Garry's back in the U.S. for a few days trying to scrape up funding to buy protective gear for health care workers. The WHO and other groups are also providing such gear, but it's getting spread thin.
If workers start re-using gloves, gowns or goggles, they could end up spreading the virus. There's no cure and no vaccine, and the outbreak is killing 60 percent of its victims.
Volunteers are trying to get the word out about how the virus is spread, but it’s tricky getting the message right.
“People have been resisting the idea that it was just not some type of curse or spirit. Or that it’s people trying to keep them from eating bush meat,” Garry said.
One suspicion was that people initially got Ebola by eating bush meat — apes, monkeys, bats, and rodents slaughtered for food. That’s how experts now believe the AIDS virus first started circulating among people and it’s possible Ebola originated there, too.
But now it’s spread mostly person-to-person, Garry said. “The only thing that people hear is ‘Don’t eat bushmeat.’ It just gets people riled up. It’s not a useful message.”

Image: ICOAST-HEALTH-EBOLA-FEATURE ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP - Getty Images
A woman prepares food at a "maquis," a small African restaurant, in Kobakro, outside Abidjan, which now serves various types of meat instead of bushmeat, on April 8, 2014. The Ministry of Health has asked Ivorians, "particularly fond of porcupine and agouti," a small rodent, to avoid consuming or handling bushmeat.

The porous borders in the area make things difficult, also. People, many of them in the same ethnic groups, pass freely from one country to another.

Genetic testing makes it clear this particular Ebola outbreak is being caused by a local strain that arose in West Africa. Ebola had only been seen in central Africa before, but the discovery suggests that the virus had been circulating undetected before. Hemorrhagic fevers are common in Africa — Garry’s team was originally in Sierra Leone to study and fight another virus, one that causes Lassa fever.
“We’re probably finding (Ebola) now because we are looking for it,” he said.
Bats are another suspected source. Bats carry hundreds of viruses and carry antibodies to Ebola, which suggests they can be infected. Bat meat could be one source, but so could bat spit.
“It’s mango season. The bats are eating the mangoes and the people are eating the mangoes,” Garry said.
It’s not an unusual idea. Researchers tracking Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus or MERS are also checking the theory that fruit-eating bats may spread that virus in their saliva.

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/ebola-outbreak-tip-iceberg-experts-say-n137081