Ebola Outbreak: Ebola Declared International Health Emergency

Ebola Outbreak: Ebola Declared International Public Health Emergency

Taking extreme measures to keep a deadly West African Virus from spreading around the globe.

The World Health Organization’s officially declared the Ebola Outbreak an International Public Health Emergency. Such a declaration requires an extraordinary response to stop the  spread of the virus.
WHO announced the Ebola outbreak — the largest and longest in history — is of high enough concern to merit being declared an International Health Emergency. WHO declared similar emergencies for the swine flu pandemic in 2009 and for polio in May.
The World Health Organization examined the severity of the ongoing epidemic at a meeting this week. 

There’s currently no approved treatment or vaccine for Ebola; the fatality rate is 50 percent or higher

                                                                     by Liz Montano on August 8, 2014 at 5:52 

Liberia declares State of Emergency over Ebola

ABUJA, Nigeria --Liberia's president declared a State of Emergency Wednesday as the World Health Organization said the death toll from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has risen to 932.

The new figures come as Nigeria confirmed the death of a nurse of Ebola. It was the 2nd Death from the disease in Nigeria and a growing number of cases are being reported in Lagos, a megacity of some 21 million people.

The 1st Death in Nigeria was that of Patrick Sawyer, a 40-year-old American of Liberian descent with a wife and 3 young daughters in Minnesota. Sawyer, who worked in Liberia, was traveling on a business flight to Nigeria when he fell ill. Nigerian authorities acknowledge they did not treat Sawyer as an Ebola patient and failed to isolate him for the first 24 hours after his arrival in Nigeria last month.

In Liberia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf declared a State of Emergency late Wednesday and said some civil rights may have to be suspended as a result of the crisis.

'Ignorance and poverty, as well as entrenched religious and cultural practices, continue to exacerbate the spread of the disease,' she said in a televised address to the nation.

Ben Webster, a Red Cross disaster response manager in London, said it is 'critically important' that people displaying symptoms are identified quickly.

'It's impossible to say whether this specific situation could have been avoided, but there is certainly more likelihood of travelers coming from an Ebola-affected country in the region and authorities need to be aware, even if the infrastructure and situation is challenging,' Webster said.

Ebola, which has a mortality rate between 60 percent and 96 percent, is a systemic virus, meaning it impacts all organs that control various functions in the body. But before it attacks the gastrointestinal, respiratory, vascular, muscular, neurological and immune systems, Ebola starts off looking a lot like the flu.

At its onset, a patient may experience fatigue, fever, headache, sore throat and pain in the joints and muscles. The initial symptoms are so common that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cases are often misdiagnosed.

In Saudi Arabia, officials say a man who was being tested for the Ebola virus has died. The 40-year-old returned on Sunday from Sierra Leone, where at least 286 people have died from Ebola, and was then hospitalized in Jiddah after showing symptoms of the viral hemorrhagic fever.

There have now been at least 1,711 cases of Ebola this year, which has no proven vaccine or treatment, according to new figures released Wednesday by the World Health Organization. More than 932 people have died in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria as of Aug. 4, WHO said.

In Nigeria, the 5 people now infected from Sawyer would not have been contagious to their neighbors or family members until they started showing symptoms of their own, health experts say. The delay in enforcing infection control measures, though, is another setback in the battle to stamp out the worst Ebola outbreak in history.

Ebola can only be transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of someone who is sick - blood, semen, saliva, urine, feces or sweat. Millions live in cramped conditions without access to flushable toilets, and signs posted across the megacity tell people not to urinate in public.

Since the incubation period can last up to 3 weeks, some of the Nigerians who treated Sawyer are only now showing signs of illness that can mimic many common tropical illnesses - fever, muscle aches and vomiting.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ebola-death-toll-reaches-932-world-health-organization-says/

Ebola: Basic Facts About the Virus

The Ebola Outbreak of 2014 has become the largest in history. News about the disease spread very quickly and was accompanied by rumors and disinformation, some of which created panic and stuck fear in people. Scientists are still attempting to create a vaccine against the deadly virus, and many questions about the disease remain unanswered. However, there are basic facts about the Ebola Virus that people concerned should know, including the virus’ history, symptoms, treatment and ways to protect oneself.

Previously, the virus was known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, but nowadays it is more commonly called Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The disease is caused by the 5 representatives of the genus Ebolavirus. Each one can infect humans, however only Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, Zaire Ebolavirus and Sudan Ebolavirus species cause disease or death. The current outbreak is caused by the Zaire Ebolavirus species, which is considered to be the most dangerous due to its 90 percent death rate.

The origin of the EVD remains a mystery. One theory suggests that dogs, bats and pigs could harbor the Ebola virus in their intestines. As a result, people who eat one of these animals could get infected. The 1st outbreak happened in 1976 in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo, and in Nzara, Sudan, simultaneously. The outbreak in Yambuku was situated close to the Ebola River, which explains the name given to the virus.

Symptoms of Ebola may appear in only 21 days and initially may be fever, headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting, which is similar to flu. Further progression of the disease can lead to kidney and liver failure, dehydration and hemorrhaging. At the last stage, the immune system releases excess immune and cytokine cells, which leads to tissue and organ damage. Presence of Ebola is usually determined by a blood test.

Currently, a vaccine for Ebola Virus Disease does not exist. The best doctors can do is provide intensive patient support, which includes introduction of intravenous fluids and maintenance of optimal temperature, blood pressure and oxygen levels. Scientists have developed vaccines that demonstrate promise, but which are not yet tested and can give no guarantees.

EVD is spread through contact with an infected person’s body fluids, including sweat. Ebola can be transmitted sexually through semen as long as seven weeks after the person is infected even if the symptoms are weak. People involved in healthcare have to be extremely cautious with products of human excretion. Those involved with the preparation of bodies for burial must be very careful as well, because Ebola can be transmitted via bodily fluids even after death has occurred.

The Outbreak of 2014 originated in Guinea in March. As of now, the disease has spread to Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Out of 1,323 cases registered in West Africa, 729 were fatal. 2 citizens of the U.S. were infected with Ebola during their stay in Africa. Both of them were transported to the U.S. where currently, doctors of Emory University Hospital in Atlanta are fighting to save their lives. 60 health care workers died this year in attempts to control and stop the disease.

According to the predictions of many health officials, spread of the virus beyond the African continent is not likely. The reason why it spread so rapidly in Africa is due to an inappropriate level of health care. Representatives of the World Health Organization are keeping their eye on the Ebola Virus Disease in order to prevent transmission of  the disease to other countries and regions.

One basic fact to consider about the Ebola virus is that the best way to eliminate the possibility of getting the disease is to avoid trips to the locations where cases of 
Ebola virus have been registered this year. If one has traveled to such an area or has been exposed to a person who has, there is a necessity to contact a hospital for medical assistance. Practicing proper hygiene is also mandatory if the slightest chance of being infected exists.

                By Yevgeniya Migranova

'So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.' 
(Isa 41:10)