Why the Ebola Crisis Won't End Without Military Intervention

By Steve Brozak and Anne Marie Noronha September 16, 2014

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Photograph by Dominique Faget/AFP via Getty Images

Workers wearing personal protective equipment inside the contaminated area at the Elwa Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia

Ebola has evoked our worst nightmares as it continues to outrun containment efforts. The staggering death toll of the disease, projected to rise exponentially, means the modern world faces a global crisis on par with the plagues of history. Unlike seven centuries ago, there are viable options to fight the disease on a global scale. The longer the world takes to exercise those options, however, the less effective and more costly they will become.

Most people expect that some biotech company will eventually create a vaccine or antiviral, and the high-tech cure will swiftly arrive where it is most needed. Countless Hollywood blockbusters have implanted such fictions in our psyches. Unfortunately the pace of science is much slower, even in the face of mass loss of life. It’s true that we have sophisticated manufacturing facilities, but only because of U.S. government spending over the last decade by such agencies as BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) and NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) to address the threat of deadly pathogens. These facilities will become critical to our “mopping up” efforts later on. First, however, we must accept that Ebola is a threat to the entire world.

As the U.N. General Assembly meets on Tuesday, we must come to terms with the fact that a highly coordinated military intervention is absolutely necessary and inevitable. The U.S. and its allies must be obliged to muster a ready force of 15,000 within 30 days, with almost as many health-care personnel to deal with patients and medical screening. Even prior to this, a secured air-bridge system must be initiated while commercial air travel continues to shut down. An air-bridge will be essential to continue uninterrupted transport of health-care workers, medical supplies, and food.

Why is such an organized and robust strategy required?
  Reports from Liberia indicate that the situation is desperate. Hospitals have become quarantine zones for the dead and soon-to-be dead. Medicine is no longer even being used on people infected with Ebola. It is especially clear that the Liberia’s government is incapable of managing a response; even elected officials have fled the nation. Doctors and nurses have either perished from Ebola or have left the country due to a lack of support and concern for their safety.
Amid the collapse of health-care infrastructure, it is only a matter of time before total chaos descends. The number of infected people is spiraling out of control, with estimates of human infection unreliable. In past outbreaks, transmission contacts in remote areas were counted by the tens; today’s infected contacts can reach the hundreds in an urban setting.
The early symptoms of Ebola—fever, chills and flu-like illness—mimic several other diseases, including malaria. Those who may seem to have the disease are put into wards with patients who really do have Ebola. The impending onset of the hot rainy season will make it even more difficult for remaining health-care workers to adhere to wearing full biohazard suits. This will only aggravate the exponential rise in the number of sick and dead: Some models predict over 100,000 deaths by the end of the year if the rest of the world continues to drag its feet.

Even if Ebola doesn’t mutate to become more infectious, we must accept that this virus is no longer an African problem—so far away geographically that it’s hard to imagine it touching our own lives. A single passenger on a ship or an airplane could spread the virus to another continent. The Ebola crisis is a natural disaster, like a tsunami or earthquake. But unlike natural disasters with limited global consequences, Ebola is perpetual with far-reaching implications. What we must realize is that Africa is our neighbor and Ebola’s global spread is no longer the stuff of fiction.  http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-16/why-the-ebola-crisis-wont-end-without-military-intervention

LATEST WHO REPORT

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/situation-reports/en/

Ebola cases may be kept within tens of thousands, WHO says

Tue, Sep 16 17:34 PM IST

 1 of 2 

GENEVA (Reuters) - The unprecedented Ebola outbreak in West Africa requires a $1 billion response to keep its spread within the "tens of thousands" of cases, United Nations officials said on Tuesday.
The virus has killed 2,461 people, half of the 4,985 infected by the virus, and the toll has doubled in the last month, World Health Organization Assistant Director General Bruce Aylward said.
"Quite frankly, ladies and gentlemen, this health crisis we're facing is unparalleled in modern times," Aylward told a news conference in Geneva. "We don't know where the numbers are going on this."
He said the WHO's previous forecast that the number of cases could reach 20,000 no longer seemed a lot, but the number could be kept within the tens of thousands with "a much faster reponse".
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will launch a "global response coalition" in New York on Thursday, said Dr. David Nabarro, senior U.N. coordinator for Ebola.
"The amount for which we requested was about $100 million a month ago and now it is $1 billion, so our ask has gone up 10 times in a month," Nabarro told reporters.
"Because of the way the outbreak is advancing, the level of surge we need to do is unprecedented, it is massive," he said.
The United States announced on Tuesday that it would send 3,000 troops to help tackle the Ebola outbreak as part of a ramped-up response including a major deployment in Liberia, the country where the epidemic is spiralling fastest out of control. http://in.mobile.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idINKBN0HB15B20140916?i=1

UPDATE 1-Liberia must wait weeks or months for new Ebola centres - WHO

Tue Sep 16, 2014 12:40pm GMT

 

GENEVA, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The Ebola response in Liberia, the country worst hit by the outbreak, will focus on community-level care units since new treatment centres are unlikely to be ready for weeks or months, World Health Organization Assistant Director General Bruce Aylward said on Tuesday.
"The absolute first priority is to establish enough capacity to rapidly isolate the cases so that they are not infecting others. We need Ebola treatment centres to do that, very very quickly, but they take time to build, as you've seen," he said.
"It takes weeks, if not months, to get these facilities up and running. We have firm commitments for more than 500 additional beds in Liberia and we think we will hear announcements that will take that even further over the coming weeks."
The WHO still has a goal to "bend the curve" in total Ebola case numbers across West Africa within three months, but some areas may be free of the disease sooner, he said.
"You definitely want to get Nigeria and Senegal obviously done quickly," Aylward said. "In some capitals - Freetown, Conakry - we should be able to get those free in the near term. Guinea should be able to get most of the country free in the very near term as well."
In Sierra Leone and Liberia the disease is more entrenched over bigger geographic areas and the Liberian capital Monrovia was a "particular challenge", he said.
The number of cases has shrunk to one single confirmed Ebola patient in Senegal, after two suspected cases were ruled out, and remained steady at 21 cases in Nigeria, he said.
"I cannot say Senegal is safe. Remember, if a country has Ebola, the incubation period is about 21 days. I like to see at least two incubation periods without any cases to be absolutely sure. So that would take us way out into October. Never declare victory over this virus."
Guinea, where the outbreak originated last December, has had 936 cases, Sierra Leone 1,602 and Liberia 2,407, he said. (Reporting by Tom Miles, editing by Stephanie Nebehay)  http://af.reuters.com/article/liberiaNews/idAFL6N0RH32X20140916

CNN STORY ON EBOLA FOR YOU

http://ht.ly/Byhoi

UN: Nearly $1 billion needed now to stop Ebola

By JOHN HEILPRIN and KRISTA LARSON
Associated Press

Sep 16, 12:37 PM

GENEVA (AP) -- The number of Ebola cases in West Africa could start doubling every three weeks and it could cost nearly $1 billion to contain the crisis, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

Even as President Barack Obama was expected to announce the deployment of 3,000 American forces to help provide aid in the region, Doctors Without Borders said the global response to Ebola has been far short of what is needed.

"The response to Ebola continues to fall dangerously behind," Dr. Joanne Liu, president of the medical charity, told a U.N. special briefing on Ebola in Geneva. "The window of opportunity to contain this outbreak is closing. We need more countries to stand up, we need greater deployment, and we need it now."

In a report released Tuesday, WHO said some $987.8 million is needed for everything from paying health workers and buying supplies to tracing people who have been exposed to the virus, which is spread by contact with bodily fluids such as blood, urine or diarrhea. Some $23.8 million alone is needed to pay burial teams and buy body bags, since the bodies of Ebola victims are highly infectious and workers must wear protection suits..... http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EBOLA?SITE=MYPSP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-09-16-08-50-47

Ebola crisis: World Health Organisation to establish global response coalition to combat 'unparalleled' spread of disease

Wed 17 Sep 2014, 12:39am

 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is establishing a global response coalition to the Ebola crisis as the spread of the disease worsens in West Africa.

At a press conference in Geneva, WHO and UN officials said an unprecedented surge in the response to the crisis was needed, with the disease now having killed more than 2,470 people out of 4,940 cases in West Africa.
"Quite frankly, ladies and gentlemen, this health crisis we face is unparalleled in modern times," WHO assistant director-general Dr Bruce Aylward told reporters.
"The gravity of the situation is difficult to get across with just a few numbers."
He said the number of infected and dead had doubled in the past fortnight.

Ebola crisis on the brink

An Australian doctor in Liberia says time is running out to stop the outbreak from spiralling out of control.

"You start to get a sense of the rapid escalation we're now seeing of the virus, as it moves from what was a linear increase in cases to now almost an exponential increase in cases."
The UN estimates 20,000 people could be infected by the end of the year.
"We don't know where the numbers are going," Dr Aylward said, pointing out that two weeks ago when WHO said it needed the capacity to manage 20,000 cases, "that seemed like a lot."
"That does not seem like a lot today," Dr Aylward said.
The move comes as Australia is expected to announce later today it will increase its aid contribution to combat the health crisis.

Major humanitarian crisis on the cards: UN

Public Health Association chief executive Michael Moore said Australia must improve its aid contribution, which so far has totalled $1 million.
"We need to assist with aircraft to provide an air bridge so that they can get protective equipment and medication. These are the sorts of things that Australia can do and it's now really time for action," he said.
"So Australia has to wear its share. It has to make sure that it sends the money that the World Health Organisation asks for."
Nearly $1 billion is needed to fight the outbreak, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said, more than doubling the organisation's estimate of less than a month ago.
She warned that "if not dealt with effectively now, Ebola could become a major humanitarian crisis in countries currently affected".

Foreign Correspondent reveals how its team covered the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone before a media lockout was enforced.

It comes as the United States said it would send 3,000 troops to help tackle the Ebola outbreak as part of a ramped-up response including a major deployment in Liberia, the country where the epidemic is spiralling fastest out of control.
The US response to the crisis includes plans to build 17 treatment centres, train thousands of healthcare workers and establish a military control centre for coordination, US officials told reporters.
The plan will "ensure that the entire international response effort is more effective and helps to scale up to turn the tide in this crisis," a senior administration official said.
The 17 treatment centres will have 100 beds each and be built as soon as possible, an official said.
A site will also be established where military medical personnel will teach some 500 healthcare workers per week for six months or more on how to care for Ebola patients.  http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-16/who-to-launch-global-response-coalition-to-combat-ebola/5748552

"Never got diagnosed with what was my brother" #Maracay

The deceased, Franklin Fossi, developed fever, bleeding and stains on the body. His relatives and specialists required to clarify the precise cause of death

JORGE MARIA EMILIA M.
mjorge@el-nacional.com | DAVID GONZÁLEZdgonzalez @ el-nacional.com September 15, 2014 - 12:01 am

Franklin Fossi, 41 years old, was married and had 4 children, one newborn. Died yesterday at the Central Hospital of Maracay, in Aragua. Yuly Fossi not yet out of perplexity by the speed with which events occurred: he said that last Tuesday his brother began to feel fever and body aches. He was taken to the institution with the suspicion that he had a disease that has become common in Aragueño territory chikungunya.

"We were there until 2:00 in the morning, was five hours. He was discharged and Wednesday seemed to be improving. On Thursday worsened, and it was when I moved back to HCM and isolated, "he said in a telephone interview with The National. Since then, he remained in the recovery room, where I could only enter authorized personnel. "They spent the nurses and doctors with masks, all covered with boots and gloves."

Yuly Fossi said that in hospital mild rash that had aggravated his brother was into large purple sores.

Wilmer Fossi, also brother of the deceased, said the deterioration occurred very quickly, "It was a matter of days. We learned that bounced when coughing and had blood stains. "

The patient's mother was one of the few family members could visit. "When my mom saw this and was intubated. After he entered the hospital he had infection in the lung. And he did not come with problems cough "explained Sister.

The hospital asked the family Fossi help to get drugs. On Saturday night the website of the radio online Radiofonik published a notice of public service: "To hospitalized in the emergency area of HCM (Franklin Fossi) patient is in the area of ​​resuscitation is needed urgently Paracetamol Infalgam or intravenous. "The medicine was donated by a person who had in his house.

They also had to support the HCM with laboratory tests and medical supplies. "The reviews were almost all out of the hospital, there is no reagents. They put a tube and had to find the urine collectors. "

Accurate diagnosis of the condition of Franklin Fossi has not yet arrived. Among the tests performed is a blood culture that you are still waiting. "On Saturday, a doctor who came to see my brother all he told me was that first and then asking God to let him into the hands of doctors until we knew what was wrong. But we were never told. Never got a diagnosis of what was my brother, "lamented Yuly Fossi.

The death certificate lists the cause of death was "acute respiratory distress type 1", an explanation that does not satisfy everyone.

Studies

Wilmer Fossi expects the National Institute of Hygiene Rafael Rangel give them the results of the studies. "Anyway we in the funeral home where we will ensure, to take samples sent for tests by us and to really know what he had."

Yuly Fossi also wants reasons for death are clarified: "My brother was fine and it was contaminated in the hospital. We need this to get because Governor Tarek el Aissami said nothing happens. We do not know what is happening. "

Studies

The Medical College of Aragua and the Venezuelan Society of Public Health's request Fossi relatives were shared so that the authorities release the results of medical tests that help to clarify the picture. Angel Sarmiento, president of the regional medical association, on Thursday reported the deaths of eight patients in the hospital for a febrile haemorrhagic syndrome of unknown cause. The governor denied the allegations and attributed to a terrorist campaign, which called for a criminal investigation.

"Our task is to pressure the hygiene institute to give the results, because since last week have samples," Feder said Alvarez, secretary of the College of Physicians of Aragua. To date, the Health Ministry has not issued official position on the case of Maracay.

Alvarez said that a blood culture may take 8 days to be analyzed, but at 72 hours it is possible to cut growth that yields a preliminary result. Similarly, he indicated that viral tests can take between 5 and 7 days, and serology for dengue 48 to 72 hours. "To start today should be working."

Ana Carvajal, epidemiologist, urged the Ministry of Health to ensure that adequate protection measures are taken until one knows how to cope with the disease and asked the office to give information about the cases.

Ebola hasn’t scared doctors away – Achimota Hospital

Monday, 15 September 2014

Source: Citifmonline.com

Management of the Achimota Hospital has denied reports that health workers have abandoned their duties following reports of a suspected Ebola case.

The suspected Ebola patient, a Nigerian, sought medical attention at the Achimota Hospital after battling a severe fever for a while. The Doctors suspected him because he showed symptoms of the deadly Ebola Virus.

The hospital has currently isolated him pending further investigations. Some clients who brought patients to the hospital told Citi News they had been abandoned by the health workers on duty following reports of a suspected Ebola case.

Citi News checks at the hospital also revealed very little activity. But speaking to Citi News, the Administrator of the Achimota Hospital, Atindaana Nsobilla said, “that is not the case, there are nurses and doctors working around the clock, and there are patients too that are being attended to. So it is not the case that health workers have abandoned their post.”

Mr. Atindaane Nsobilla told Citi News blood samples of the victim have been taken for further investigations.

“We receive patients often and today’s case is not unusual. A patient came in with hemorrhagic fever and the best thing to do is to investigate. It’s part of our routine activities. So for now, we can’t conclude we’ve gotten a suspected case of Ebola. We are taking the sample then it will be taken to the appropriate unit for investigation. The patient is currently at the Achimota hospital and being attended to following the routine practices,” he added.

The Head of Disease Surveillance at the Ghana Health Service, Dr Badu Sakordie in an earlier interview with Citi News said they are closely monitoring the situation.

“We are just getting it like you are doing, so we are yet to follow up; so I don’t have too many details to come out. Let’s investigate,” he added.

Ghana has so far investigated 37 suspected Ebola cases which all came out negative. Government has subsequently disbursed Ghc100,000 to each regional hospital to refurbish Ebola isolation centres.

Meanwhile, the Oxford University in United Kingdom has predicted that Ghana and 14 other countries in Africa are at risk of recording Ebola due to their geographic location. Some 2,288 people have died from Ebola in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

200,000 from Ebola countries have U.S. visas

Greatly raising stakes virus could infect Americans

Published: 20 mins ago

(WASHINGTON EXAMINER) There are about 200,000 Africans from countries hosting the deadly Ebola virus who hold temporary visas to visit the United States, greatly raising the stakes it could spread to America, according to a group following the immigration issue.
“Based on State Department nonimmigrant visa issuance statistics, I estimate that there are about 5,000 people in Guinea, 5,000 people in Sierra Leone, and 3,500 people in Liberia who possess visas to come to the United States today,” said Jessica M. Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies.
Add to that “more than 195,000 Nigerians” with visas to visit, or who could already be here, she said of the country that has seen temporary U.S. visas skyrocket.

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2014/09/200000-for-ebola-countries-have-u-s-visas/#OXrpvQQMKooZWQ18.99

FAMILY the last died in the Hospital of #Maracay described what happened: "Never got diagnosis"

Monday, September 15, 2014

Yuly Fossi, sister of the man who died Saturday at the Central Hospital of Maracay, said the man was taken Tuesday emergency with fever and body aches, and had suspicion that he might try to chikungunya.

According to the newspaper El Nacional, Yuly Fossi said his brother was released and seemed to hover an improvement, however, hours after he was taken back to the Hospital of Maracay.

His brother, Wilmer Fossi, Franklin said Fossi started coughing blood and bounced, then started to sprout some spots, while explaining that his brother was deteriorating very fast. Meanwhile, Yuly said the sores were big and purple.

The patient's mother was one of the few family members could visit. "When my mom saw this and was intubated. After he entered the hospital he had infection in the lung. And he did not come with problems cough "explained Sister, as quoted by The National.

Relatives of Franklin stated that the diagnosis still has not arrived. Among the tests performed is a blood culture that you are still waiting. "On Saturday, a doctor who came to see my brother all he told me was that first and then asking God to let him into the hands of doctors until we knew what was wrong. But we were never told. Never got a diagnosis of what was my brother, "lamented Yuly Fossi.

The death certificate lists the cause of death was "acute respiratory distress type 1", an explanation that does not satisfy everyone, reported The National. 

#Maracay

Franklin Fossi, 40 years old, died Sunday at the Central Hospital of Maracay, in the Venezuelan state of Aragua, according to information provided by family newspaper 'The National', suggesting that it might be a new case of 'unknown disease' that has killed eight others were admitted to the same hospital with similar symptoms.
"It was a matter of days, I spoke with him on Thursday and it was fine," said Wilmer Fossi, brother of the victim, explaining that-just as it happened to other patients-Franklin died in less than 72 hours from the symptoms began, in what has been described as "a process of deterioration very quickly."
"Yesterday we asked for medication to lower the fever and we took. We knew that expelled blood because coughing and had stains on the body," detailed the brother, who asked for an explanation by the medical center, which would have isolated the sick to avoid possible contagion. "We are outraged to be told that nothing happens, we want an explanation," he asserted.
This news comes days after the president of the local Medical College, Angel Sarmiento, to report that eight people had died in the Central Hospital of Maracay by disease "that is yet to be determined", while requesting support from international organizations health to determine the cause.

An unknown disease

Sarmiento denied that it is Ebola, meniccocemia, dengue or chikungunya because "as practiced epidemiological evidence". "We know what we are facing," said the president of the Medical College of Aragua, recognizing not know or even if it is a virus or bacteria.
The first deaths were four adults and four children who arrived with the same symptoms, from different areas of Aragua. The first case occurred at midnight last Tuesday. "The patient died within 72 hours of abruptly with massive bleeding," said Sarmiento.
All dead people have the same symptoms: small hemorrhages within 72 hours progressed and became fever and massive bleeding. Therefore, when dealing with an unknown illness, Sarmiento recommended not go except in cases of extreme necessity the Central Hospital of Maracay.

The local government denies

The governor of the state of Aragua, Tarek El Aissami denied at that time there is bacteria in hospital in Maracay and accused the president of the Medical Association of the entity to lead "a campaign of rumors and terrorism", through a series Messages posted on his official Twitter profile.
The aragüeño president rejected reports "have been unleashed chain messages on mobile and digital networks on alleged bacteria in the Central Hospital of Maracay is absolutely false." Sentenced, implying that the deaths are not related with that alleged unknown bacteria referred to by Sarmiento.
The opposition leader Henrique Capriles, meanwhile, said "the government has to give an explanation of what was what happened in Ottawa." "They do not want you to leave information and as always politicize the issue," he lamented.
Capriles said that "the health system in Venezuela is collapsed because of this failed model." "How many patients are dying in our country because there is no input, because the money was stolen. That's the reality," he said.

#Maracay patient admitted with fever and bleeding Dies

Dies patient admitted with fever and bleeding

Frank Gonzalo Fossi joined the Central Hospital three days ago, according to family

In Maracay Central Hospital autopsy was performed

Monday September 15, 2014 12:00 AM

Maracay -. Though doctors and staff working at the Central Hospital of   (HCM) remain sealed at the news, a patient admitted to the health center, died on Sunday morning, following the course Febrile Hemorrhagic Syndrome, they alleged their families.

The victim was identified as Frank Gonzalo Fossi, 42 years old, who had a rapid decompensation and deterioration caused his death in just three days, relatives reported that remained in the hospital waiting for the autopsy results with the purpose of verifying the cause of death.
They explained that Frank Gonzalo Fossi expelled fever and coughing up blood. He also recorded rosettes skin.

On admission he was diagnosed with Chikungunya, but also had a lung condition.

Family members are awaiting further evaluation on the cause of death and if it comes Fever Syndrome Hemorrhagic disease mentioned last week by representatives of the College of Physicians in the state, who pointed know if this is a virus or bacteria but causes rapid deterioration of the organs. The version was denied by the state governor, Tarek El Aissami, who said Sarmiento sought to "create chaos".  https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eluniversal.com%2Fnacional-y-politica%2F140915%2Ffallece-paciente-ingresado-con-fiebre-y-hemorragia&edit-text=

New assessment of Ebola: 39 dead in Djera

September 14, 2014, | Last Update September 14, 2014 at 7:06 | under Briefly , Ecuador , Health . Tags: Ebola

The epidemic situation Ebola September 13 is as follows: of the 66 cases, there are 24 confirmed, 26 probable and 16 suspect. 39 deaths were recorded, including eight personal health Djera in the territory of Boende (Ecuador), according to the Ministry of Public Health.
A total of 626 people have been in contact with sick since the beginning of the epidemic, which already exits 342 and 284, which are being followed.
The five suspects in the city of Lisala were negative.
In addition, the Department of Health confirmed the return to school for Monday, September 15 in this part of the province of Ecuador.

not ebola

septiembre 15, 2014 12:54 pm
 The health secretary of Aragua state, Luis Lopez, said the death of a person with a particular symptoms in the Ottawa Hospital this weekend, has responded to an unknown virus, or Ebola meningococcemia. Union Radio

He felt that if he is going to address the issue in a political way, "it would be easier to say something is going to go to all to try to solve. How are we going to admit that something is going on that does not happen. No emergency Ebola collective deaths, a bacterium that produces death, there is no case with meningococcemia. "

"Unfortunately with all attacks they are doing, we had to explain one by one. We arrived at the sale yesterday and again for different networks say that a ninth person died. The person who died according to the autopsy law has peticulares lesions in the lower limbs, fibrinous pleuritis in bilateral lung granulomatous lesion in the lung. "  http://www.lapatilla.com/site/2014/09/15/desmienten-muerte-de-persona-en-maracay-por-ebola/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Ebola ghost grabs officials - ten sacked, dozens suspended

Monday, 15 September 2014 04:35 ND Reporter

TRANSLATE

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has dismissed ten officials of her government, while suspending dozen others for being absent from the Ebola fight.
The President as part of measures to strengthen the government's fight against the deadly Ebola virus which is ravaging the Mano River sub-region had earlier issued a two week ultimatum to officials who were not on official duties to return home or face dismissals.

As a follow up, over the weekend the Executive Mansion released the names of ten officials whom it said have been dismissed with immediate effect and instituted several measures against officials of various agencies,  commissions, and parastatals not subject to presidential travel approval.

Those dismissed are Dr. Othello Gongar, Commissioner, Governance Commission, Ms. Kona Beysolow, Commissioner, Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, Cllr. Wheatonia Dixon-Barnes, Deputy Minister for Administration and Public Safety, Ministry of Justice, Ms. Victoria Sherman-Lang, Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs, Ministry of Justice, r. Hilary Sirleaf-Siakor, Assistant Minister for Prisons, Ministry of Justice, Ms. Ardia Kaikai, Assistant Minister for Afro-Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Lauretta Reffell, Assistant Minister for Administration, Ministry of Public Works,  Mr. James H.R. Cooper, Assistant Minister for Administration, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications,Ms. Meapeh Gono-Glay, Assistant Minister for Administration, Ministry of Labor and Mr. Ebenizar Z. Gibson, Assistant Minister for Trade Union, Ministry of Labor.

President Sirleaf said the dismissed officials have shown insensitivity to the current national tragedy and disregard for authority.

Members of the various Boards not subjected to direct Presidential travel approval have also forfeited their salaries, compensation, as well as benefits and Board fees until their return to the country, the Executive Mansion said, naming them as Ms. Jackie Khoury of the Board of Directors of NOCAL, Ms. Massa Roberts of the Monrovia City Council, Mr. James P. Cooper of the Board of the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation, Ms. Miata Beysolow, Chairman of the Board of the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation and Mr. James Thompson of the Board of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation.

Meanwhile, junior officials not subject to Presidential approval have also forfeited all compensation and benefits until their return to join in the fight against the Ebola virus disease. The Executive Mansion release named them as   Ms. Christine Norman, Mayor, Bensonville City, Montserrado County, Mrs. Ade Jones Captan, Commissioner, Congo Town, Montserrado County,   Ms. Alexine Howard, Commissioner, Caldwell, Montserrado County, Ms. Annie Dillon, Commissioner Dixville, Montserrado County, Mr. Amos Forkay, Commissioner, Bolloh District, Grand Kru County, Mr. J. Kaydio Wreh, District Superintendent, Grand Kru County, Mr. Moses O. Z. Reeves, District Superintendent, Rivercess County and   Mr. Nathaniel During, District Commissioner, Rivercess County.

The Executive Mansion further noted that for senior and junior government officials, including those from the various agencies, commissions and parastatals claiming serious and life-threatening medical conditions, an examination on a case-by-case basis will be conducted...
http://www.thenewdawnliberia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12666:ebola-ghost-grabs-officials-ten-sacked-dozens-suspended&catid=25:politics&Itemid=59

Another patient died in #Maracay Central Hospital (AND THE GOV. BROWSE bury REPORTED THAT THE MEDIA)

Another patient died in Maracay Central Hospital (AND THE GOV. BROWSE bury REPORTED THAT THE MEDIA)

Franklin Fossi, 40 years old, died today at approximately 8:00 am, at the Central Hospital of Maracay, Aragua state, according to information provided by family members. Wilmer Fossi, the victim's brother, told The National by telephone that his brother was the victim of a deterioration process very quick conversation. "It was a matter of days, I spoke with him on Thursday and it was good."

The patient had, according to his associates, symptoms should be investigated. "Yesterday we were asked medication to lower the fever and we took. Learned that bounced when coughing and had blood stains on the body."

A Fossi kept him isolated, according to his brother, he could avoid infecting patients in intensive care area. Wilmer Fossi said that treating physicians did not give precise tracks her illness the patient. "We are outraged to be told that nothing happens, we want an explanation of what happened to my brother and that he do an autopsy."

It has contacted Corposalud Aragua, but still have not given an official release.  https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.noticensura.com%2F2014%2F09%2Ffallece-otro-paciente-en-hospital.html&edit-text=

Liberian Ebola burial teams stressed, traumatized

Photo: EPA/IRIN

A team trained to bury Ebola victims at work in Liberia (file photo)

MONROVIA, 12 September 2014 (IRIN) - As the Ebola death toll mounts in Liberia, burial teams are having to contend with physical risk and trauma as they take charge of safely burying the dead, often in the face of local anger.

Ebola has killed 1,224 Liberians as of 6 September, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with 68 percent of those deaths in the past three weeks. Cases are expected to continue to spiral across the country - 14 out of 15 counties have reported cases - with the bulk in the capital, Monrovia.

Government and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) burial teams initially took charge of burying the dead but they could not begin to keep up with the needs and called on community members to take on this difficult task. Marcus Speare is the head of a burial team in Margibi County (next to Montserrado County), which is made up mostly of young men.

Each team is trained by the ICRC and Ministry of Health and members are paid US$300 a month.

"Even as I speak to you we just received calls from three communities to pick up dead people. The deaths are too much. Sometimes I get confused. I am in shock. Too many of our people are dying."

All day long Speare’s phone rings requesting his team to pick up more corpses. “We don’t rest. My phone rings all day every day. We are on our way right now to pick up dead bodies in the Palmwine Station Community and Tower Hill. Sometimes we get tired. But this is what we have chosen to do. We want to help our community. This fight cannot be left on government and partners alone,” he told IRIN by phone from Margibi County.

“It is too sad,” he continued. “We pick up all kinds of bodies. We collect women, men and what mainly bring tears in my eyes are innocent children who died from this disease… It is painful to bury our people in these kinds of numbers. It is too much to handle.”

Anger and fear

Team-members must contend with rejection from their own families and communities, and anger and resistance from families they are trying to help, which at times turns into violence.

“Our vehicle has been attacked by angry residents on many occasions,” said Speare. “They have stopped us from picking up dead bodies from various homes. They say to us that we are responsible for the spreading of the disease. One group of youths threw stones at our bus that is used to collect bodies. But we remain very calm with them. We tell them that we also stand at risk to do this job. And that we are just helping. So there is no need to attack us.”

Police now escort teams to pick-up points.

Sumo Wonder, a member of Speare’s team, told IRIN his parents have expelled him from the house. “They feel that I will infect them. Right now I am sleeping with my friend. They say I should return when the Ebola crisis is over,” Wonder told IRIN.

Team members must also cope with the shock of having to confront so many deaths, including those of friends and family members, says the Red Cross. A driver on a burial team in Kakata, capital of Margibi County, told IRIN he was exhausted.

“Even as I speak to you we just received calls from three communities to pick up dead people. The deaths are too much. Sometimes I get confused. I am in shock. Too many of our people are dying.”

Emmanuel Togar, member of a burial team in Kakata, the capital of Margibi County, told IRIN: “Sometimes I cry when I see someone my own age lying in a pool of blood. It is too sad. I am out of words.”

Photo: Tommy Trenchard/IRIN

The Ebola virus has killed 1,224 Liberian thus far (file photo)

It is also stressful having to be mindful of one’s physical safety every minute of the day, says an IFRC briefing note on the psychosocial strain caused by Ebola.

Team members must wear a protective suit and goggles, boots and gloves covering every inch of their body, which can pose a high risk of heat exhaustion. “If we are not vigilant every minute of the day, then we too will die from it [Ebola],” said Togar.

Improved pick-up rate

As more burial teams are trained, the pace of picking up the dead quickened. In the first months overwhelmed burial teams would only get to bodies three or four days after they had died, greatly upping the risk of transmission to family members as the virus remains active even in a dead body. Now the pick-up rate is usually within the day, said Fiyah Tamba, secretary-general of the Liberian Red Cross.

Pick-up gaps are still leading to bodies piling up, however, particularly in Monrovia which is experiencing ongoing protests as a result - the latest one taking place in the Capitol bypass neighbourhood on 11 September.

But Togar says they are doing their best and need others to join them. “Now as soon as our phone rings we are on the move.”

As of 6 September 2014, some 4,269 probable, confirmed and suspected cases and 2,288 deaths had been reported in the current outbreak by the health ministries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. NGO Médecins sans Frontières, WHO and affected governments have repeatedly called on international governments to step up their response if the disease is to be contained.

14 September 2014 Last updated at 19:36 CET

Ghana investigating suspected Ebola case

Ghana, according to the Ghana Health Service, is currently investigating a suspected case of Ebola.
The latest suspected case is a Nigerian patient, who sought medical attention at the Achimota hospital in Accra Sunday after battling fever for a while.
Ebola virus is currently spreading across West Africa and is believed to have killed over 2000 people in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria since the outbreak began in February, according to the World Health Organisation.
Ghana has so far investigated 37 suspected cases of the deadly virus with all turning out to be negative.
Citifmonline quotes Dr. Badu Sakordie, Head of Disease Surveillance as saying the health authorities are closely monitoring the patient.
“We are just getting it like you are doing so we are yet to follow up so I don't have too many details to come out. Let's investigate,” he said.
Asked if blood samples of the patient had been sent to the Noguchi Memorial institute for further tests, he said: “they take a sample but then this one we just had the information… they haven't given us a report, these things we can't preempt, let's do the proper investigation and come out.”

Ebola Claims The Life Of Another Doctor In Sierra Leone

14 Sep 2014

Ebola Claims The Life Of Another Doctor In Sierra Leone

A fourth doctor, Dr Olivet Buck has died of Ebola in Sierra Leone after a failed bid to transfer her abroad for treatment. The doctor passed away last night after the World Health Organization, WHO said it couldn’t help to move her to Germany.

Sierra Leone had requested funds from the organisation to transfer her for treatment saying it could not afford to lose another doctor.

However, Chief Medical Officer Dr Brima Kargbo confirmed today September 14 that the Sierra Leone national had died on Saturday night. WHO had said it could not meet the request but instead would work to give Dr Buck 'the best care possible' in Sierra Leone, including access to experimental drugs.

This will come as a huge setback for the impoverished country that is battling the virulent disease amid a shortage of health care workers.

A total of 301 health workers had become infected with the disease as of September 7 in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, according to WHO. Of that number, which included suspected and probable cases in addition to confirmed ones, 144 had died.

Due to the fact that the virus is only transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids of people showing symptoms or from dead bodies of Ebola victims, health workers have been especially vulnerable as they respond to the worst outbreak in history.

In Nigeria, the virus has claimed the lives of two doctors.  http://real9jagists.blogspot.com/2014/09/ebola-claims-life-of-another-doctor-in.html

Ebola crisis: Australian doctor at frontline of outbreak says time is running out to contain disease

Updated about 6 hours agoMon 15 Sep 2014, 7:26am

Photo: Dr Ian Norton, pictured in 2013, says foreign medical staff are desperately needed to help contain the outbreak of Ebola in west Africa. (Supplied: Gemma Haines/DFAT)

Map: Liberia

The Ebola outbreak in west Africa is already a crisis; it could very easily become a catastrophe.

Dr Ian Norton, chief of foreign medical teams with the World Health Organisation (WHO), is a contributor to ABC News coverage of the Ebola crisis. He says it is a race against time to build a number of massive field hospitals in Monrovia, Liberia, as the death toll nears 3,000.

We have only a narrow window of opportunity in which to contain this outbreak.
If we ignore it, we will find the disease much more difficult to control and can expect infection rates to escalate.
Not to put too fine a point on it: we have a closing window of perhaps weeks now before we will not be able to manage all the cases on the ground in the way that we normally would.
Already the WHO and the ministries of health of the three most affected countries are thinking of other ways to contain and manage the large numbers infected.

Photo: Workers begin construction on an Ebola treatment centre for Medecins Sans Frontieres in Liberia. (WHO: Dr Ian Norton)

This is new for everybody. The only team that has built a field hospital for Ebola treatment before has been from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), and their standard operations are for only 40 people.

We are building five 100-bed field hospitals in Monrovia, in addition to the 200-bed facility which already exists there and which will soon be expanded to at least 300, perhaps 400, beds.

Profile: Dr Ian Norton

• Currently chief of foreign medical teams with the World Health Organisation in west Africa
• Previously Director of Disaster Preparedness and Response at the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre in Darwin
• Involved in the emergency medical response when 44 asylum seekers were badly burnt in a boat explosion at Ashmore Reef in 2009
• Team leader of the Australian civilian medical response to the Pakistan floods in 2010
• Has worked in India, Indonesia, Europe and East Timor

We are calling for foreign medical teams across the world to come and assist us.
We are not looking for huge numbers of foreign doctors and nurses and logistics staff but at least a core group of 30 to 40 who would help manage these large centres and then work alongside national medical staff and nurses.
Tragically, Liberia - which already ranks fourth-last in the world for numbers of doctors per population - has lost almost 20 doctors to Ebola. They only produce 10 doctors per year in a medical class.

Ebola virus explained

What is Ebola, and how does this highly contagious and deadly disease spread?

They have also lost a large number of nurses, and Ebola care is all about the nursing care. There are only a couple of thousand nurses in the country and we know that at least 90 have died from the infection and another 50 or 60 have survived.
The nurses and doctors are actually willing to come back to work, with measures in place to assist them including protecting equipment, training and a payment scheme which reflects the danger of the work.
Without medical care, the mortality rate of this Ebola outbreak is about 90 per cent. While it is a devastating disease, it is not universally fatal, even with minimal care.
But with better care, and certainly with the new Ebola treatment centres and with the right number of staff treating them, we can gradually escalate the level of care and have better outcomes.
For example, we have seen in Guinea for several months that with good supportive care we can bring the mortality rate down to 30 to 50 per cent at most.
So we can see a several-fold improvement in survival if we can just get the teams in here and get these Ebola treatment centres up and running.
We have to stop this spreading beyond the point of no return.
This interview with Dr Ian Norton first aired on the ABC's PM program.

Photo: Sierra Leone has also seen the construction of centres specifically for the treatment of Ebola. (WHO: Dr Ian Norton)  

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-13/australian-doctor-says-time-running-out-to-contain-ebola/5741858 

CDC issues Ebola checklist: 'Now is the time to prepare'

By Paul Bedard | September 15, 2014 | 11:34 am

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warning hospitals and doctors that “now is the time to prepare,” has issued a six-page Ebola “checklist” to help healthcare workers quickly determine if patients are infected.
While the CDC does not believe that there are new cases of Ebola in the United States, the assumption in the checklist is that it is only a matter of time before the virus hits home.
For example, one part reads: “Encourage healthcare personnel to use a ‘buddy system’ when caring for patients.” Another recommends a process to report cases to top officials:

Plan for regular situational briefs for decision-makers, including:

-- Suspected and confirmed EVD patients who have been identified and reported to public health authorities.

-- Isolation, quarantine and exposure reports.

-- Supplies and logistical challenges.

-- Personnel status, and policy decisions on contingency plans and staffing.

The checklist has been distributed to major hospitals and even little ones, including an urgent center in Leesburg, Va.
“Every hospital should ensure that it can detect a patient with Ebola, protect healthcare workers so they can safely care for the patient, and respond in a coordinated fashion,” warns the CDC.
“While we are not aware of any domestic Ebola Virus Disease cases (other than two American citizens who were medically evacuated to the United States), now is the time to prepare, as it is possible that individuals with EVD in West Africa may travel to the United States, exhibit signs and symptoms of EVD, and present to facilities,” it adds.
Several hospital and medical websites have just begun to post the checklist online.

Ebola: Expatriates flee Port Harcourt

Category: News Extra

Published on Sunday, 14 September 2014 05:00

Written by Victor Edozie, Port Harcourt

As a result of the deadly Ebola virus disease, which a Nigerian diplomat, Olu-Ibukun Koye took to Port Harcourt from Lagos, expatriates are leaving the country.

Investigations reveal that foreigners, especially those from Asia countries, who work in multinational companies located in Port Harcourt, are leaving the city in droves for fear of contacting the dreaded virus.
Many foreigners, mostly of India extraction, were seen at the Port Harcourt International Airport with their families making efforts to board international flight back to their countries.

Some of the expatriates, who spoke to reporters, said they were afraid of contacting the dreaded virus and decided to go back to their countries. One of them who spoke under the condition of anonymity said, “We are very scared because Ebola has no cure. So we want to go back to India. We don’t want to take chances; hence the reason why we want to go back to our country. I am here with my kids and wife. We want to leave Nigeria for our country.’’
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Since the Ebola outbreak in Port Harcourt, the Garden City has lost its peace. Residents now live in fear. Body contact, backslapping and the traditional handshake have become a taboo in the city. Nightlife, which the Rivers State capital is noted for, has become a nightmare. In churches, the spiritual laying of hands by clergies has stopped. In various hospitals, mere symptoms of fever and diarrhea have become a dangerous venture medics don’t want to trade on. Hospitals in Port Harcourt and its environs now reject patients with symptoms of malaria and diarrhea.
The prices of hand-gloves and sanitisers have increased tremendously.
 Addressing traditional rulers and religious leaders in Port Harcourt on the Ebola disease, Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State enjoined them to sensitise the people in their different domains and partner with his administration in its rescue efforts.
The state government is also getting assistance from multinational companies in Port Harcourt in its fight against the virus.