Unburied Bodies Show Ebola-Hit Areas’ Transportation Woes

By Simeon Bennett Aug 28, 2014 12:47 PM ET
The bodies of Ebola victims are taking as long as five days to be buried in Liberia as a shortage of ambulances and fuel compound the fear and isolation that are stoking the worst outbreak of the virus on record.
A lack of vehicles and a fuel shortage are hampering the ability of the World Health Organization and its allies to reach affected communities and investigate new cases, said Rick Brennan, director of the WHO’s department of emergency risk management and humanitarian response.
“Getting those activities running in the counties requires a lot of vehicles and fuel, and both of those are in short supply,” Brennan said by phone from Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, which has the highest death toll in the current outbreak at 694. “The roads here really beat up the vehicles, so they don’t have a long shelf-life.”
The cancellation of flights to West Africa by carriers including British Airways and Air France, contrary to advice from the WHO, also poses a challenge to bringing in people and supplies to the region and getting them where they need to go. The limits on transportation have also made local people feel isolated and demoralized, said Keiji Fukuda, the WHO’s assistant director-general for health security.

Reeling Economies

“If companies pull out, if airlines continue not to fly here and more close down, it is going to just worsen the economic impact and the social impact,” Fukuda said in a phone interview from Monrovia. “These countries don’t have that much resilience. What other countries may be able to withstand is going to send these countries potentially reeling.”
The worst-affected nations may see 1 percentage point to 1.5 percentage points shaved off economic growth because of the disease, African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka said this week.
The human toll of the outbreak has risen to 1,552 dead of the 3,069 people infected so far in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria, according to the Geneva-based WHO. More than 240 health-care workers have been infected so far and more than 120 have died because of a shortage of personal protective equipment or its improper use, the WHO has said.
“We need the sea ports and airports to be opened so we can receive supplies, medicines, relief items and personnel to help curb the spread of the disease,” said Musu J. Ruhle, charge d’affaires of the Embassy of Liberia in Ghana, at a meeting of West African health ministers in Accra, Ghana’s capital. “The whole country is isolated.”

Burial Teams

Liberia has deployed more burial teams, Assistant Minister of Health for Preventive Services Tolbert Nyenswah said today in Monrovia. Fourteen of 15 counties have received protective equipment after donations from China, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, or Unicef. A fleet of 23 ambulances is now available, and India has donated water, rice and 100 beds and mattresses, Nyenswah said.
Health-care workers have been going through the equipment more quickly than expected through overuse or not reusing some items such as face shields, goggles, heavy-duty gloves and heavy aprons, said Nyka Alexander, a WHO spokeswoman. Goggles and boots can be disinfected and reused, though disposable gloves, surgical gowns and scrubs are destroyed after one use, Alexander said.

Direct Relief

Direct Relief, a Santa Barbara, California-based charity, said a 4,000-pound shipment of supplies including gloves, gowns and antibiotics will head to Liberia via Brussels today. The shipment, carried by Brussels Airlines and originally scheduled to arrive on Monday, has faced disruptions as Senegal closed its border to flights originating from the affected region.
Doctors Without Borders has a supply center in Brussels and has been chartering its own flights from there. Unicef this week delivered 100 tons of equipment to Liberia, including personal protective equipment, gloves and thermometers, the fund said in a statement.
The WHO is relying on Brussels Airlines and Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc, which are still serving the affected countries, as well as on the UN Humanitarian Air Service, which has a plane and three helicopters in the region.
“We are worried that more air carriers may suspend flights,” Brennan said. “Some of the shipping firms have shown a little bit of hesitation. These are issues we’ve got to watch very closely.”

Canceled Flights

The UN health agency and the International Air Transport Association have said that travel and trade restrictions aren’t warranted and that the risk of Ebola spreading through air travel is low. Airlines haven’t been listening.
Emirates is also among airlines that have suspended flights to affected countries.
DHL Express is still operating daily flights to the Guinean capital of Conakry; Freetown, Sierra Leone; and Monrovia, though it has stopped taking blood samples out of them, said Dan McGrath, a spokesman for the carrier in Bonn.
Meanwhile, the WHO has asked for volunteers from its 7,000 staff globally to assist in West Africa, Fukuda said.
“Everyone in the organization is asked to be ready to contribute,” he said. “There are a lot of people who are saying, ’We’re ready to go.’”  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-28/unburied-bodies-show-ebola-hit-areas-transportation-woes.html

TAN’s rallies flouting Ebola control measures, stop them now, APC tells Jonathan

on August 28, 2014   /

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately halt the rallies being organized across the nation in his support by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), saying the rallies are jeopardizing Nigeria’s efforts to control the spread of Ebola.
”Mr. President, you said your ambition is not worth the life of any Nigerian. But the TAN rallies for your re-election are endangering the lives of thousands of Nigerians in these days of Ebola. Some things must simply transcend politics. This is one of them. Please stop the rallies now,” the party said in a statement issued in Ilorin on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
It said the President must in particular ensure that the rally slated for Port Harcourt on Saturday is stopped, in view of the spread of the Ebola virus to the Rivers capital and the fact that 100 people have been placed under surveillance there following the death of a medical doctor from a suspected Ebola disease in the city... http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/tans-rallies-flouting-ebola-control-measures-stop-now-apc-tells-jonathan/

Experimental Canadian Ebola vaccine wouldn’t reach Africa before 2015

Kelly Grant - HEALTH REPORTER

The Globe and Mail

Published Thursday, Aug. 28 2014, 12:43 PM EDT
Human trials of Canada’s experimental Ebola vaccine are expected to start in the United States this fall, but, like other vaccine candidates headed for accelerated testing in humans, the Canadian-developed injection will not be deployed to the West African outbreak until next year at the earliest.
The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) announced Thursday that it would begin next week enrolling healthy adult volunteers in a phase I trial of a different vaccine, developed in partnership with the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, Inc., and based on a chimpanzee cold virus.... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/experimental-canadian-ebola-vaccine-wouldnt-reach-africa-before-2015/article20234961/

Britain advises against all but essential travel to Ebola-hit nations

Updated: Friday August 29, 2014 MYT 12:40:27 AM

Britain advises against all but essential travel to Ebola-hit nations

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain warned its citizens on Thursday to avoid all but essential travel to west African countries hit by the world's worst outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.
The escalation in the travel advice issued by the foreign office in regards to Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia came after a British volunteer nurse working in west Africa became the first British citizen to contract the disease.
On Aug. 5, British Airways announced it was suspending flights to Sierra Leone and Liberia until Aug. 31. These services have now been suspended until Dec. 31.
So far 3,069 cases have been reported in the outbreak but the World Health Organisation says the actual number could already be two to four times higher.

(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Ralph Boulton)

advertisement

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/World/2014/08/29/Britain-advises-against-all-but-essential-travel-to-Ebolahit-nations/

Two Ebola Cases Confirmed in Port Harcourt – Minister

SAN FRANCISCO, August 28, (THEWILL) - Nigeria's Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has announced two new cases of the deadly Ebola disease in Port Harcourt, River State.
He named a physician, Dr. Ikechukwu Sam Enemuo, who was killed by the disease as one of the victims. Dr. Enemoah is believed to have treated a diplomat that had direct contact with the Liberian-American man, Patrick Sawyer that brought the disease to Nigeria.
The diplomat, according to the Minister is not symptomatic but has been placed under surveillance. http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news...t-ministe.html

Liberia: 'We Have Failed in Fighting Ebola'

 28 August 2014

Gbarpolu County Senator Armah Z. Jallah has confessed the failure and ineptitude of the Government of Liberia to combat the Ebola virus in the country.
Speaking to reporters at the Capitol on August 27, 2014, he mentioned that the fight against the deadly virus is beyond the control of the government, and as such the fight should be given to international health experts, who have the experience and technical knowhow to wipe the virus out of the country.
He mentioned that the fight towards the Ebola virus should be outsourced from the Government of Liberia because according to him, nothing tangible has been done to eradicate the human killer.
Senator Jallah stressed that the remaining US$15 million should be given to the US Center for Disease Control, instead of the Liberian government, which is in the country to work along with the government.
The Gbarpolu County lawmaker indicated that Liberia lacks the experience and competence to fight the virus and out of weakness and ignorance, the virus continues to take away many lives.
He said doctors and nurses including the National Taskforce that is headed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf do not have the medical sophistication to deal with the human killer in the country.
Senator Jallah pointed out that the country should be divided into three regions with medical practitioners from the Center for Disease Control and Medicine San-Frontier assigned in each of the regions to provide medical treatment to the dying Liberians.
The Gbarpolu County Senator indicated that it is only the international health team that can rescue the government and its people from the virus. http://allafrica.com/stories/201408281601.html

India-867 passengers being tracked for Ebola Virus Disease

867 passengers being tracked for Ebola Virus Disease

WHO has reported a total of 3069  cases and 1552 deaths (as on 26th August 2014) due to Ebola Virus Disease from affected countries. Country-wise break up is as under: Sl.No. Country Cases Deaths 1. Guinea 648 430 2. Liberia 1378 694 3. Sierra Leone 1026 422 4. Nigeria   17   06 Total 3069             1552 One passenger who travelled from Nigeria and quarantined at isolation facility at Delhi Airport yesterday have been tested negative for EVD and released from this facility. During past 24 hours, 126 passengers from the affected countries have arrived at the Airports of Mumbai (57), Delhi (46), Kochi (6), Bangalore (4),Trivandrum(2),Kolkata(2) and Chennai (9). Three passengers travelling from Sierra Leone have been found symptomatic and quarantined at isolation facility at Delhi airport. Their reports are awaited. About 15009 passengers arriving at International airports have been screened since it started on 10th August 2014 (as on 27th August 2014) Today, 03 passengers were enrolled for follow up in their respective States through State IDSP units. As on date, a cumulative number of 867 passengers are being tracked. Most of them are in the States of Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.  http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=109151

Infected Margibians ‘Sneaking’ into Grand Bassa

Margibi and Bassa Counties share a common border, parts of which are porous (Google Maps image)

Infected Margibians ‘Sneaking’ into Grand Bassa

Thu, 08/28/2014 - 07:22 admin

Bassa County Orders All Officers to Monitor Localities

By: 

Conscience N. Tequah (in Grand Bassa County)

The Grand Bassa County local administration is alarmed about the increase in deaths reported in towns bordering Margibi County, and has quarantined several towns within its domain, where deaths have occurred. Yet, still, the porous rural terrain does not prevent other towns from danger as reports say infected people from Dolo’s Town in Margibi have snuck into towns in rural Grand Bassa to avoid the quarantine imposed by the Government of Liberia. 
In a press conference held at the administrative building in Buchanan last week, the County Information Officer Eddie Williams said due to the close proximity of the other infected counties, Grand Bassa stands a high risk of infection.
Despite warnings by local authorities, people are circumventing the checkpoints that connect the two counties.  The check point at Owensgrove has a health post to test travelers for high fever, a trait that suggests the presence of the Ebola virus.
At Owensgrove, Grand Bassa borders Margibi County, home to Dolo’s town, from where people have reportedly fled to rural parts of Grand Bassa by boat. Dolo’s Town is now under quarantine due to the high rate of Ebola infection there.
“Since those reports, there have been occurrences of strange deaths in villages and towns closer to Margibi County,” Williams said.
“In Gbarpleh Town, Bassa County for example, some 20 persons have died and were buried by the town’s people without informing the county authorities, though the cause of the deaths could not be confirmed.
“It was confirmed that of those 20 persons, 11 had come from Dolo’s Town. “In another town called Commission’s Town, there were six deaths reported; Quenweh Town, 2 deaths; Jacob Lateh Town 3 deaths, 1 confirmed of Ebola,” he explained.
Although many of the deaths reported have not been tested for Ebola, the rate at which they are happening
As a result the Grand Bassa county administration has ordered all local government officers to remain in their localities to monitor activities and number every hut within their respective areas.
“This will help them have a record and monitor the movements of citizens and visitors in and out of their districts, clans, towns and villages. There isn’t a possibility that everybody will be tested,” he stressed.
The County has also halted all market days and large public gatherings until further notice and vowed to prosecute violators.
“All officers, district elders and superintendents must report to health authorities about all illnesses and health problems. That is why we decided, as a county, that all local authorities remain in their localities,” he added.
According to Williams, towns with deaths reported have been quarantined, and will be fed by the County authority.
“As it regards the 3 nurses who came in contact with the Ebola Patient from Rivercess, the nurse who was showing signs and symptoms was taken to Monrovia for proper treatment where he was reported dead. We are keeping close watch with the other nurses in the quarantine unit.
Williams closed by admonishing people need to “be fully involved as a means of showing responsibility. Ebola does not discriminate amongst people. Citizens must be ready and willing to support and work with the task force. The force consists of Organizations and Groupings.”  http://www.liberianobserver.com/news/infected-margibians-%E2%80%98sneaking%E2%80%99-grand-bassa

Rivers confirms case of Ebola death in PH

on August 28, 2014   /   in News 2:24 pm 

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME
PORT HARCOURT: RIVERS state government has confirmed the death of a medical doctor from Ebola virus.
Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker who broke the news Thursday in Port Harcourt said the late Dr Iyke Sam Enemuo died Friday last week from suspected Ebola virus, adding that a test on his corpse released yesterday confirmed that the deceased died from the virus.
He said the late Enemuo met a staff of Economic Community of West African states, Ecowas at a hotel in Port Harcourt, noting that the ECOWAS staff was on the team of those that received the index case, late Patrick. According to the Commissioner of Health, one week after the ECOWAS staff left Port Harcourt the late Dr Enemuo took ill and was admitted in a hospital.
The Commissioner, Dr Parker said the wife of late Dr Enemuo who is also a doctor had fallen sick and had been quarantined, adding that about 100 persons who had primary or secondary contact with the late Dr Enemuo had been placed on watchlist.
While appealing to residents of the state not to panic the Commissioner, Dr Parkar said adequate measures were in place to check the spread of the disease.
His words,: “My friends, brothers and sisters. The Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has directed me to make this solemn announcement to you.
And it is with a heavy heart that I announce to you that the ebola virus has claimed its first victim in Rivers State. Dr. Iyke Sam Enemuo died last week Friday, August 22, 2014 as a result of what was suspected to be ebola virus disease.
The Rivers State Ministry of Health on becoming aware of the conditions of his death, immediately commenced investigations and contact tracing.
As at today, about one hundred contacts from a hotel, patients of Dr. Enemuo and patients of the hospital where the late Enemuo was treated until his demise have been identified and restricted in Rivers State.
The locations are being decontaminated. I had promised to be open and candid with the public on our efforts to tackle the ebola virus.
From our investigations some facts have emerged. A staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the team that received late Dr. Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian American diplomat who died of ebola haemorrhagic disease in Lagos, Nigeria made a trip to Port Harcourt where he checked into a hotel and met with Dr. Iyke Sam Enemuo.
About a week after his departure, Dr. Iyke Enemuo took ill and was rushed to a hospital where he presented with symptoms of fever, diarrhea and vomiting.
In the course of treatment, the managing physician became suspicious and took samples for investigation. A few days after, Dr. Iyke Enemuo died on August 22, 2014. His body was deposited at a mortuary in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Iyke Enemuo’s widow, who is also a medical doctor and who cared for him during his illness has taken ill. She is being quarantined.
A few hours ago, results of the test carried out on samples taken from Dr. Enemuo came back and was positive of Ebola Viral disease.
The diplomat who was seen by late Dr. Iyke Enemuo is alive and well. I urge every Rivers State citizen and resident to remain calm and go about their normal businesses. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water and avoid unnecessary body contacts till further notice.
The Government of Rivers State is doing everything possible to contain the effects and spread of the ebola virus. We have all the material and human resources we need to fight and defeat the deadly virus.
Officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and other international agencies are already here working with the state ministry of health. Together, I believe we can contain the ebola virus.
I shall continue to update you as more information become available. Thank you, stay safe and God bless.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/rivers-confirms-one-case-ebola-death-ph/ 

Liberia: Suspected Ebola Patient On the Run in Nimba, Flees Hospital

28 August 2014
Monrovia — FrontPageAfrica has gathered that a suspected Ebola patient whose specimen was brought to Monrovia for testing has escaped isolation in Sanniquellie, Nimba County. The suspect, a male is said to have left the center after the electricity went off.
"He left the center because the electricity went off, accordingly because he was afraid", Teeko T. Yorlay, Assistant Superintendent for Development confirmed to FPA. Assistant Superintendent Yorlay said health workers have already taken the specimen of the man who has been showing signs and symptoms of the virus to Monrovia for testing...http://allafrica.com/stories/201408281374.html?viewall=1

Ebola spreads to Nigeria oil hub Port Harcourt

  28 August 2014 Last updated at 08:02 ET

Nigeria has confirmed its first Ebola death outside Lagos – a doctor in the oil hub of Port Harcourt.

His wife has been put under quarantine, while a further 70 people in the city are under surveillance.
Latest figures show more than 1,550 people have died of Ebola, with at least 3,000 confirmed cases - mostly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the total number of cases could potentially exceed 20,000.
In an action plan to deal with the outbreak, the WHO said that "the actual number of cases may be 2-4 fold higher than that currently reported" in some areas.
Speaking to reporters, the WHO assistant director-general, Bruce Aylward, said the possibility of 20,000 cases "is a scale that I think has not ever been anticipated in terms of an Ebola outbreak".
He added: "That's not saying we expect 20,000... but we have got to have a system in place that we can deal with robust numbers.''..
This unprecedented outbreak is currently out of control as medical agencies struggle to cope with the increasing number of cases on the ground and continue to face hostility from communities in certain affected areas, the BBC's West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy reports.
Before any results are seen on the ground, the number of infected people will probably continue to grow given that most treatment centres are already operating at full capacity, our correspondent adds.,..
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28966258

Ebola toll tops 1,550, outbreak accelerates: WHO

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/28/us-health-ebola-toll-idUSKBN0GS0UO20140828

GENEVA Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:19am EDT

(Reuters) - The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has killed more than 1,552 people out of 3,069 known cases in four countries and "continues to accelerate", the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.
The epidemic in the region, the deadliest since the disease was first discovered in 1976, has killed nearly as many people as all the previous known outbreaks combined.
"More than 40 percent of the total number of cases have occurred within the past 21 days. However, most cases are concentrated in only a few localities," the United Nations health agency said in a statement.
The WHO is later due to launch a new strategic plan for tackling the spread of the virulent disease.
A separate Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, identified as a different strain of the virus, is not included in the latest figures which cover Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
The disease has overwhelmed West Africa's already fragile health infrastructure. On Wednesday, the head of the African Development Bank said it was causing enormous damage to the economies of the region.

Terrified Residents Flee as Dogs Eat Ebola Corpses

errified Residents Flee as Dogs Eat Ebola Corpses

Residents say dogs in the area were now eating some of the over 45 corpses that are yet to be removed to a crematorium or at a registered cemetery for proper burial

Wed, 08/27/2014 - 09:16 admin

45 Ebola Bodies Remain Dumped near River in Johnsonville

By: 

C.Y. Kwanue

The general Town Chief of Kissi Camp, Upper Johnsonville near Kpekpeh Town, over the weekend informed the Daily Observer that several dogs in the community have torn the plastic wrapped around corpses of Ebola victims and are now feeding on parts of the corpses exposed to them.
As such, Town Chief Tamba Tengbeh expressed fear of the subsequent outbreak of other diseases in the area since some of dogs are domesticated and could cause harm to the already frightened community dwellers.
Chief Tengbeh, in an exclusive interview with this newspaper on Sunday, also complained that the more than 2,000 residents of the area have been suffering an offensive odor of rotting corpses since the bodies were dumped in the nearby Kpanwein River by authorities from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) without proper burial.
To that effect, Internal Affairs Minister Morris Dukuly, told this  newspaper via mobile phone a week ago that there is no corpse exposed to create a health hazard or environmental concerns for the Johnsonville residents.
He maintained that the MIA bought the parcel of land on which the dead bodies were dumped, and with that, “nobody can tell  anybody that the bodies will be removed since they have been under the ground for several weeks.”
MIA has up to date not disclosed to this paper the name of the person who sold the parcel of land on which the bodies were dumped;  nor have they disclosed the amount on money that was involved in the deal since the land was indeed found to be private property, owned by one Joseph  F. Dolo and others.  Mr. Dolo’s ownership to the parcel of the land in question has been confirmed by his initials marked on his cornerstones. His father, Emmanuel T. Cole, has also denied any knowledge of the MIA ‘land transaction’.

Cognizant of the health hazard upon the community dwellers as dogs were now feeding on some of corpses, Chief Tengbeh has with great fear for the spread of the disease, instructed some of the ‘vulnerable’ youths to cover the exposed bodies with red dirt.
He has appealed for government intervention to resolve the impasse in the community.
Compounding the problems for the  residents and the entire community, Chief Tengbeh said they lack safe drinking water and have also not been provided any Ebola preventive and protective materials.
According to him, some of the dogs that fed on those bodies have died, although this paper is yet to confirm that part of the report.
Guarded by heavily armed platoons of officers from the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and the Police Support Unit (PSU) several weeks ago, two mini trucks conveyed the corpses of Ebola victims to be buried in Johnsonville.
This dumping of about 45 bodies on the bank of the Kpan-wein River under the heavy guard of police and soldiers  immediately created a stampede, with people running in all directions, for fear of being contaminated or afflicted with the Ebola disease.
The plan had been to bury the bodies in mass graves dug by a hired yellow machine.  But the machine unfortunately got stuck in the mud, where the property meets the mangrove. The yellow machine is yet to be removed since its owner has since gone into hiding  for fear of being attacked by the Ebola virus.

The Kpanwein River connects the Kpeh-Kpeh Town Community to Whein Town in the east and Chicken Soup Factory on Somalia Drive in the west, as well as Upper and Lower Johnsonville, and many other communities in and around Monrovia.
Since the first truckload of corpses arrived Saturday, August 2, residents of the nearby communities vehemently rejected the use of their land to dispose of the bodies.
An aggrieved Kpeh-Kpeh Town resident, Carey Daniel, told the Daily Observer that the exact plot of land where the graves are dug is a wetland on the bank of a river that is a source of water for many communities around there. They fear that their wells ---from which they get water for drinking and domestic use – will definitely be contaminated, exposing them to the same deadly Ebola and other diseases.
  Meanwhile, for fear that those dogs might spread the disease among the residents, many inhabitants have reportedly fled to other parts of Monrovia.  http://www.liberianobserver.com/news/terrified-residents-flee-dogs-eat-ebola-corpses

Ebola: MSF sends a response team to urgent Lokolia

What to do to fight against cholera after the MSF. Radio Okapi / Ph. John Bompengo

The NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is sending a team of emergency intervention to Lokolia, the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak on August 27th. Nathalie Gielen, coordinator of MSF / Kinshasa, told Radio Okapi that the team will try to isolate the suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola. It states that MSF team is already there. It was she who had made the samples sent for analysis to Kinshasa and have confirmed the Ebola virus.
"This is a team that made the assessment of the situation for a week and that made samples that were then sent for analysis. This team is always on hand and expects the rest of the team leaving tomorrow, "says Nathalie Gielen.
Another team of 17 people will join the first group to Lokolia "to start the activities of management."
The coordinator of MSF / Kinshasa says that this team brings "everything needed for water equipment, hygiene and sanitation."
"We also send medicines to relieve patients and we send all necessary personnel, doctors, nurses, logisticians, to be able to help the population affected by this population," she added... https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2014/08/27/ebola-msf-depeche-une-equipe-dintervention-urgente-lokolia/&usg=ALkJrhjY2A2fg8AIBQbEHoJOKIZ5FSIrxg

 

Liberia: 4 West Point 'Looters' Tested Positive of Ebola

27 August 2014

The Minister of the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), Lewis G. Brown, has disclosed that four of the protesters, who recently broke into and ransacked the Ebola Quarantine Center in the West Point Township, have been tested positive of the Ebola virus.
The protesters, who said there was no Ebola in Liberia, stormed and ransacked the Ebola Quarantine Center and made away with bloodstained mattresses and bed sheets after chasing away patients who were quarantined there.
Minister Brown, who did not give the identities of the protesters that he said got tested positive of Ebola, made the disclosure on Monday, 25 August when he spoke to UNMIL Radio.
Commenting on the government's efforts to sensitize residents about the Ebola disease, the MICAT boss said community residents are now actively involved in the dissemination of Ebola messages.
According to him, the government has conducted awareness workshops in various communities to determine the response of citizens, indicating that the people are now better situated in the fight against the spread of the virus.
He added that the government has set up a team to conduct investigation into the skirmishes in West Point after the area was placed in quarantine last week that led to the death of one person and wounding of several others."
In a related development, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on Monday, August 25paid a visit to quarantined West Point community to further explain to the people the intent of the measures placed on their community.
In West Point, the Liberian President informed the residents that the measures placed on them were temporary and is only meant to stop the spread of the Ebola virus disease.
The President told the West Pointers that the government and its partners have arranged food supply and challenged the residents to remain calm as food and water distribution has already started.
President Sirleaf, as part of several measures already taken to stop transmission, last Tuesday, August 19, quarantined West Point and Dolo Town communities in Monrovia and lower Margibi County due to an outbreak in those communities. http://allafrica.com/stories/201408271539.html

Lufthansa Cargo is integrating Lagos into its network through twice-weekly freighter flights.

The airline announced in a statement on Tuesday that as from September 15, 2014, a Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 freighter would take off from Frankfurt for Lagos every Monday and Wednesday.

Ebola: Sick Corps Member Abandoned By Colleague

As the federal and state governments battle hard to contain the spread of the dreaded Ebola disease, a sick corps member in Ekiti was abandoned by colleagues after he slumped at the orientation camp. The Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Olusola Fasuba however, allayed their fears when he said the corps member was only suffering from chronic fever.

“Although, information reaching my office from the ministry of youth and sports confirmed that a particular male corps member collapsed at the orientation camp.

“But, it was unfortunate that people around him ran away taking his sickness for the dreaded Ebola virus.

“Immediately I received the information, I swung into action by ensuring that the sick boy was immediately attended to by a team of health workers. They later discovered that he was suffering from chronic fever, the information they passed to me without wasting time. “But, I did not stop at that, at least to be sure of his correct state of health, his blood samples were taken and sent to Lagos. We received the results on Thursday indicating that he tested negative to the Ebola virus.

“The corps member has been taken away from the camp and is currently being kept at our isolated centre located within Oba Adejugbe General Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. “As I speak, I assure residents that the health of the boy in question is already improving, while he continues to show signs of good health far from Ebola,” he explained,” the commissioner explained.  http://ugokputu.blogspot.com/2014/08/ebola-sick-corps-member-abandoned-by.html

Sierra Leone News: Ebola is spreading – Dr. David Nabarro

United Nations Ebola Response Coordinator Dr. David Nabarro has said that the Ebola virus is spreading in many parts of the country.
He made this statement yesterday in a press briefing at the WHO country office, while addressing journalists.
He went further to say that the response is complicated and all need to do better to organize that response, so that it achieves the results quickly without causing more suffering,
Death and damage, therefore their focus is on organization, management and most importantly assuring that all the different efforts of Government and its partners are used as efficiently as it possibly can.
Dr. David Nabarro maintained that they have worked with the government at the highest level, including the President, in order to explore ways to continue to improve organization and that they worked with the partners as well while they are now going to upgrade all aspects of what the United Nations system is doing in a fully accountable manner, so that they get the scale up that is required.
He added that their visit to Sierra Leone has been short because they are trying to go to all four countries in the region and to report back quickly to the Director-General of the World Health Organization and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
He pointed out that the Ebola outbreak is the largest and most complex that they have ever known and is also a disease outbreak that has impacted not just on people but on the country and the World and what is happening in Sierra Leone and other countries in the region is a global issue.

He made it clear that the purpose of their visit is to understand the nature of the outbreak, as it is now and to identify ways in which the response can be stepped up, so that the outbreak can be stopped as quickly as possible. “There is also an effort to understand what the outbreak is doing to people and the economy, so that when the outbreak is stopped, we can all work hard to get the country back to economic growth and development which was going so well before Ebola came along,” he said.
The UN Ebola Response coordinator said they are anticipating partnership from the UN family, Government and partners with the focus on organization and management to really make certain that they contain the disease and bring it under control quickly.
The understandable decision by some countries not to fly in Ebola countries has had a huge operational impact on what is happening here and has enormous impact on WHO in bringing in facilities and other logistics which is now stuff making their job a lot harder.
He said that they have held a series of meetings with International Aviation bodies and airlines to see reason why they should continue to fly to Sierra Leone and other countries but it has been hard convincing them that there is nothing to fear.
Dr. Keiji Fakundu who is the WHO Assistant Director- General for global health security, said that they are basically in Sierra Leone to see how the situation has been evolving, take stock, and see where they are, what needs to be done and what needs to be changed.
He emphasized that they have two main task which are to stop the outbreak and to get the country back to normal. In that light, they have met with so many people and they have also met with the president, meet with doctors, see the clinics and know some of their challenges and get a broader perspective on what needs to be done.
He added that the situation is becoming challenging and difficult and they continue to see cases in places all over the country and their job is to stop it. “Ebola is not a mysterious disease and it transfers from person to person,” he stated.
Dr. Keiji said that when people are brought in the clinic for treatment earlier, they have a much better chance of surviving as there are people who have survived it.
He also explained how the disease can be contacted by body contact and body fluids.
On the new drugs, he said they had not been tested on humans and it becomes a difficult decision to make on their use, as nothing should be taken for granted.
By  Jay Willie & Nancy Koroma
Tuesday August 26, 2014  http://awoko.org/2014/08/26/sierra-leone-news-ebola-is-spreading-dr-david-nabarro/

Sierra Leone News: WHO gets new Country Rep.

The World Health Organization Country Representative Dr. Jacob Mafunda has been replaced by Dr. Daniel Kertesz. This information was disclosed by Dr. Keiji Fukundu who is the Director-General for Global Health Security, WHO, while answering to questions at a press briefing held yesterday at the WHO Country office.

In answering to questions posed by the press, Dr. Keiji Fukundu who is the Director -General for Global Health Security in the WHO, said that in the WHO system, they have representatives in many countries and they rotate in and out and no one stays in one country for the duration of their career and particularly when they have a situation that is really intense, as it is very tiring to be at the front line as a commander when you are in the midst of a very difficult war, so they have made a rotation of Dr. Mufunda, as he needs a rest and relaxation in another country, as this is what they do on a normal basis.

The New Country Representative of WHO, Dr. Daniel Kertesz in his statement started by thanking all for coming and announced that he is the successor to Dr. Mafunda. He thanked the government for the strides that they have made so far in making sure that the disease is stopped and he said that this is not only Dr. Mufunda”s fight but also his fight, as he is the new country representative.
 He said that he is very much looking forward to working with the UN family, the Government and all, in making sure that the disease is stopped, as this is an outbreak that has been here for some months and they will continue to rotate people, as and when the need arises, because when people are tired, they continue to make mistakes.
In answering to questions, Dr. David Nabarro who is the UN Ebola Response Coordinator disclosed that the health system and all it entails, is all what they need in this fight, after the outbreak, the process of getting a stronger health system will be in progress, as the country needs to strengthen its health system. For the next six months, it will not be business as usual, it will be putting all resources in making sure the disease is stopped
The effort to defeat Ebola is not a battle but a war that requires everybody working together effectively and hoped that it will be done in six months until the job is complete, as this is not just an issue for Sierra Leone but an issue for the world, as Sierra Leone had the best record of Economic and social development.
By Nancy Koroma
Tuesday August 26, 2014...   http://awoko.org/2014/08/26/sierra-leone-news-who-gets-new-country-rep/

Sierra Leone News: New Ebola center under construction in Kenema

The Section Chief of Konakpindibu Section in Nongowa chiefdom, Kenema District, Amara Soko Musa in collaboration with the Nongowa chiefdom authorities have provided suitable land for the construction of the Ebola Case Management camp and cemetery for Kenema district.
The land is situated at Niahun junction near Gelehun in the Nongowa chiefdom in Kenema district on the Kenema-Kailahun highway about eight miles from Kenema city.
Speaking to the press at the working site chief Amara Musa Soko said the construction of the Ebola Case Management camp in their section is part of their own contribution in the eradication of Ebola virus in the eastern region and the country at large.
He added that they have not receive any money from either the government, or nongovernmental organization for the acquisition of the land for the purpose of the Ebola Case Management camp construction and the cemetery for Kenema. He encourage his people of Konakpindibu to continue to accept that Ebola is real and is a killer disease that has no relation and if not control can easily spread fast.

The section chief Soko Musa appeal to the management of Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) to first consider the youth and other key workers in KonaKpindibu section when employing workers for services on the land adding that more than 85% of his  people are unemployed.
Earlier the program administrator SLRCS Henry Mukeh requested for burial site and recommended the Resident minister east Hon. Maya Moiwo Kaikai for the great role he is playing towards the fight against Ebola virus in the region and the speedy construction of the Ebola Case Management camp in the district. Mr. Henry Mukeh cautioned everyone to respect the rule and regulation of the health workers in other to contain the Ebola virus in the country.
The work is expected to be completed very soon though weather is hampering it progress.
Tuesday August 26, 2014

Information Minister Lewis Brown

Minister Brown: Journalists Still Subject to Curfew

Tue, 08/26/2014 - 07:38 admin

By: 

Alvin Worzi

In the wake of the nationwide curfew imposed to curtail the deadly Ebola virus by the Government of Liberia, the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lewis Z. Brown has warned journalists across Liberia to abide by the established curfew hours and avoid any problems with security personnel.
Speaking at the Information Ministry’s weekly press briefing on Thursday, August 21, Minister Brown said the curfew announced by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf includes all journalists across the country.
“We have received calls and complaints from the media in a request that journalists be permitted go about on their normal professional activities during the curfew hours and the curfew is advised by the national security council and imposed by the office by the President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and so, we all must work along with those hours.”
The Information Minister said, there are four exemptions from the curfew -- health workers across the country, concessionaires operating in their various localities, travelers going to the airport and returning to Monrovia, utility workers across the country (LEC, LWSC, etc.). What is not included is excluded, Brown said.
“The curfew by government is intended to help health workers with the best atmosphere to carry out their work and also be able to move in those communities and take away suspected cases, including bodies.  The carriers of the deadly Ebola virus are our loved ones, partners and friends, and so we must take some actions and decisions that will help contain the virus,” Brown noted.

The government’s spokesman said, “All journalists across the country should follow my footsteps in getting home early to avoid any encounter with security people,” adding that there is no greater way to fight the virus and so, the government is using the necessary means to contain the virus among the people of Liberia.”

According to the Minister, the government has taken some actions to help contain the Ebola virus, including the quarantining of two communitites, (West Point and Dolo’s Town in Margibi County) and the deployment of some officers in other parts of the country.
He disclosed that the President has instructed the Commerce Ministry authorities to work with businesses within the quarantined areas to ensure a 50% reduction of basic commodities to help supply various homes as well as the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) for constant supply of water for people in the areas.
“We are working in collaboration with the General Services Agency to ensure that those who are selling rice in the West Point get their supply at a very low rate, because we cannot feed everyone in the area but will provide free rice to hospital and clinics in these areas,” Minister Brown added.
The media had been informed that the security apparatus was considering whether or not to add pressmen to the list of exemptions; but to date, according to the Information Ministry, journalists are still subject to the 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. http://www.liberianobserver.com/security/minister-brown-journalists-still-subject-curfew

Red Cross duo tell of uphill Ebola war

Hilary Wong
Wednesday, August 27, 2014


The last two Red Cross volunteers to return from a monthlong stint in Ebola-ravaged Liberia said a broken health-care system and discrimination are making the battle against the killer virus more difficult in the West African nation.Public health specialist May Yeung Pui-shan and clinical psychologist Eliza Cheung Yee-lai, both from the Hong Kong Red Cross, were sent to Liberia on July 22 and arrived back on Friday. Three other volunteers sent in April returned the following month.
Yeung and Cheung were placed under medical surveillance for 21 days, the incubation period for the Ebola virus, after being checked by health workers at Chek Lap Kok airport.
The pair, who visited the capital Monrovia, and the counties of Bong and Monserrado, did not have any direct contact with patients but trained volunteers on the proper use of protective gear and in psychological counseling.
They said that in the country of more than 4 million people, fewer than 200 health workers were dealing with Ebola cases, and 60 of them have already succumbed to the deadly virus.
Cheung said the medical system in Liberia has broken down due to a lack of manpower, as well as protective gear and other equipment to deal with the outbreak, which started in March.
Even some doctors fled in fear. Many hospitals and clinics have also closed down.
"It was also very difficult for health workers to track down people who had close contact with Ebola patients because they are afraid of being discriminated against. They will hide instead of reporting they are family members or friends of patients," Yeung said. "On average we could just track two in each case."
Cheung also said superstitious locals think those infected by Ebola are possessed by "evil spirits." Others do not trust their own government and believe it made up the outbreak in order to receive foreign aid.
"We even saw Ebola patients dumped by their family, and corpses left on the street."
Cheung said she heard on the radio that even those pregnant were being turned away by hospitals since they would bleed. "They could therefore only give birth at home."
A shortage of food has made staples three times more expensive in places far from Monrovia. "Cargo ships transporting food do not dare berth in Liberia," Cheung said.
On the day the pair left Liberia, the government announced a nighttime curfew in Monrovia. This "heightened the horror in citizen's hearts because the last time such a curfew had been imposed was during the 1999 to 2003 civil war," Cheung said.
Of 1,082 people infected with Ebola in Liberia since March, 624 have died.
The total toll in West Africa stands at more than 1,400 with Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria the other worst-hit nations.

13 Probable Ebola Deaths & 565 Suspect In DR Congo

13 Probable Ebola Deaths & 565 Suspect In DR Congo
Recombinomics Commentary 18:15
August 26, 23:00

· Declaration of the epidemic by the Minister of Public Health August 24, 2014
· 13 people died of the disease (CFR 54%), including five health workers, about 24 cases suspects (16 women and 8 men)
· 11 people segregated
· 24 cases (16 women and 8 men) of Ebola virus disease outbreak in the area of health
Boende, from July 28 to August 18, 2014
· 80 contacts identified for monitoring
· 4 positive samples from eight after a second analysis INRB
· 565 suspected cases investigated with gastroenteritis, diarrhea and vomiting.
· Index case identified Ikanamongo (100 km Boende): a woman who died on August 11 after consuming bushmeat hunted by her husband and that has contaminated your doctor and husband.
· yet unidentified strain between Zaire and Sudan. Awaiting the results from the laboratory in Franceville (Gabon).

The above comments from the second report from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) cite four confirmed Ebola cases, which were also cited by the MSF.  The initial reported cited 2 confirmed cases.  This report cites 13 deaths, including 5 health care workers out of 24 suspect. 

Although the CFR is listed as 54%, the segregation of the 11 additional cases suggests that none of these 24 cases have been discharged, so the CFR for cases with outcomes is currently at 100%.

It is unclear how the 565 suspect cases are related to the 24 cases that are dead or isolated.

The confirmation of Ebola after 13 cases have died and a total case load approaching 600 raises concerns about the spread of the virus, as well as the relationship to Zaire, Sudan, and a recombinant strain.

WHO had indicated they would issue a report on Monday, but a delay in the shipment of samples to their lab in Gabon has led to a delay in an update / confirmation of data presented by the DRC.

MSF has pledged resources, but noted that the available resources are limited due to the record number of Ebola cases in western Africa (primarily Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea).

Sequence data, as well as a clarification of the Sudan / Zaire “cross” would be useful.

BA stops flights to Liberia, Sierra Leone until 2015 over Ebola

August 27, 2014, 6:11 am

Share

 

AFP BA stops flights to Liberia, Sierra Leone until 2015 over Ebola

London (AFP) - British Airways extended to 2015 its suspension of flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone due to concerns about the spread of the deadly Ebola virus it announced on Tuesday.

"British Airways has suspended flights to and from Liberia and Sierra Leone until 31 December 2014 due to concerns about the public health situation in both countries," the airline said in a statement.
"The safety of our customers, crew and ground teams is always our top priority and we will keep the routes under constant review in the coming weeks."
The airline had previously suspended its flights until September.
Normally, the carrier operates a route four times a week between London's Heathrow airport and Freetown in Sierra Leone, with a connection to the Liberian capital Monrovia.
The airline said customers with tickets booked on those routes could have a refund, rebook for a later date, or rearrange to fly out of Ghana, Kenya or Nigeria.
Over 1,400 people have died in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since the start of the year in the worst ever outbreak of the virus. https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/world/a/24823985/

The medical situation in Monrovia blemish "catastrophic" and fears the worst is yet to come

They get sick and die in taxi door center "

José Naranjo Dakar 26 AGO 2014 - 19:43 CEST1
Filed in:



Lindis Hurum with Brett Adamson, MSF. / John Moore (Getty Images)


"The situation in Monrovia is totally out of control, it is very serious, catastrophic," says Hurum Lindis, coordinator of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Liberia. "Every day gets worse every day the news is worse and sincerely believe that the worst is yet to come true," he adds. "We are facing an epidemic of a scale never seen before and in this city of one million people the disease is everywhere, in every neighborhood. This requires implementing a strategy that does not know, requires coordination and means that we have not seen anywhere. "
more

     "Do not give them food or clothing; leave them there to die "
     The quarantine Ebola Liberia plunges into chaos
     Fear of Ebola goes global

It takes two months to face the Ebola outbreak and has extensive emergency experience in the field, but what he saw excels all. "We have launched the largest center of isolation for sick Ebola that has ever been created, with capacity for one hundred patients, but we are overwhelmed. We see people get sick and die in a taxi at the door of our hospital, "says Hurum. "We need to address this problem like a tsunami or an earthquake, we only run after an epidemic that goes faster than us and do not see the resources anywhere. The government does what he can, he tries, but his health system is very fragile, unable to respond. "

Admits to feeling exhausted after 60 days fighting a giant and is waiting to return to his native Norway, but virtually all companies have canceled their flights. "We're seeing the reaction of the international community has been panic, trying to isolate this part of the world to prevent Ebola reach Europe or the USA. That is not the solution, we should use that energy to come here and help isolate completely because if this area is going to be even worse. At MSF we have crossed alarmist, but I'm being realistic. "

     We can not isolate these people and let die

A serious problem is that it is not by tracking cases and contacts. There is not even reliable figures. "We are absolutely certain that there are more cases and more deaths than the official figures say," he says. And we must add the problem of public safety: keep thousands of people in quarantine, and the neighborhood of West Point, where 70,000 people have been left within a cordon sanitaire. "This is not just a problem of Ebola is a real humanitarian crisis. We are in a big city where in normal times there is some crime, but now the risk of violence is high. Prices rise, schools are closed, there are areas where people can not move. We will see terrible things we've never seen before, "Hurum forward.

"There must be an answer and international agencies, are almost alone against this," he concludes. "We need doctors, nurses, skilled people, this is Ebola and there is a risk, but it is affordable, you can afford. We can not isolate these people and let die. It takes coordination that has not existed until now. I am very glad that David Nabarro [UN coordinator to the epidemic] is come this weekend, but we need all these resources are already talking implement now without further delay. "  http://sociedad.elpais.com/sociedad/2014/08/26/actualidad/1409074987_694884.html

Liberia: Quarantined & Homeless

By Samuel G. Dweh
Rampaging sea tide from the Atlantic Ocean evicted hundreds of residents of quarantined West Point Township from their homes from the early hours of yesterday, August 25.
On Tuesday, August 19, Liberia's President, Mrs. Ellen Sirleaf, gave order for barring of all residents of West Point to other parts of the Country.
The President's order came six days after some residents of the Town evaded a quarantine center in the community and escaped with mattresses, googles, nose-masks and other things in the Ebola quarantine center.
The order has is causing hunger in majority of the Township residents because the government has provided food only once (Thursday, August 21) and majority of outside relatives and friends unable to deliver food, water and money to the trapped persons. The visitation from the government is short (6am-3pm) and the bureaucracy to pass through the five check points is time-consuming. Some have spent days near the first check point, on Mechlin Street, to find a way. Perishable goods have got damaged.
By 7pm of Saturday, August 23, message of halt of food or money delivery came out from the leadership of the joint task force of the Police and Army. This message caused hopelessness in all with something to deliver to a hungry relative or a friend behind the barricades.

"If I didn't deliver the food with me, how will my eleven children and my husband survive today?" cried Madam Mary Seon, who later told the New Republic's reporter beyond the first Check Point that she lives in West Point, but was away in Salala, Bong County, when the quarantine order was issued. "I left West Point Monday to this food and arrived in Monrovia in the afternoon of Thursday."
Madam Ethel Pleh, another resident of West Point, a travel companion of Madam Seon, told the New Republic Saturday she has seven children and a grandchild. "I, too, was away out of Town buying this food for my family," she directed this writer's attention to two full rice bags besides her on the Side Walk.
"My brother, please tell me how the government is doing with this Ebola business in West Point," a lady, who gave Saybah Kamara as her name, and said she lives in West Point identified herself with formation, some people who had brought food or money went back to come another day. But some stay on with a hope the task force's decision would be rescinded later.

The government has not provided food for three days in row (Friday, August 22-Monday, August 26). Representative Saah Joseph of District # 13 and few humanitarian organizations have been filling the hunger gap created by the government's failure to provide food for the quarantined people, but the foods often come late.

The sea kicked down all the homes along the shoreline and created a plain where some of the houses had been before it struck.
"I lost all my six bed-room house to the sea water," Madam Cynthia Wlue, a resident of the Township, explained to journalists at the beachside yesterday, August 24. "I and my children and grandchildren are just sitting with our neighbor, and waiting on God to provide a sleeping place through somebody."
Another resident, Mr. Mohammed Carew, told journalists at the beachside that his four-room apart was destroyed by the erosion. "This thing is coming upon us when we are already going through a heart-breaking situation--quarantine by the government," lamented to some of the journalists observing the sea erosion's damage along the shoreline. rent t
Yesterday's was the second in this year for this annual destructive climate condition to occur. Similar thing happened four months ago.
"From report received by my office, the number of homes destroyed is two hundred and fifty," the Township Commissioner, Madam Miatta Flowers, told journalists at the Township yesterday.
Madam Flowers, however, told the Press people she didn't know the actual number of persons in each of the homes.
Representatives of the World Food Program and the Liberian National Red Cross donated food ration to residents of the Township yesterday.
Later in the day, President Ellen Sirleaf visited the Township to acquaint herself with unfolding events. http://allafrica.com/stories/201408261589.html

The Struggle to Contain Sierra Leone's Ebola Epidemic