The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr.
Thomas R. Frieden, on Monday said that there are reasons for both hope and
continued worry about the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. "I'm hopeful about
stopping the epidemic, but I remain realistic that this is going to be a long,
hard fight," says Dr. Frieden at a news conference, after his weeklong trip to
the affected countries Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
It was reported by the World Health Organization on Monday
that about 19,340 Ebola cases have been identified where Sierra Leone had the
most cases, 8,939; Liberia had 7,830 and Guinea 2,571. a total of 7,518 deaths
have been recorded in West Africa.
Ebola Virus Disease
Ebola is caused by a virus via direct contact with body fluids or infected blood. Scientists have identified five types of Ebola or Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus.
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Dr. Frieden said that when he had visited a remote part of Guinea just a few months ago, there was no treatment center and also the resistance to visiting health workers had been intense. He felt very hopeful to find that now there is a center, established by the French Red Cross, with acceptance by the community, good care and patients surviving. However, when he came to know that on a recent day in Conakry, Guinea's capital, there were not enough beds for all the Ebola patients who needed them, it was a reason to feel alarmed. Leaving infected people in the community can lead to exponential spread of the disease. Dr. Frieden said, "That's what Conakry is at risk of." He had also met with Guinea's president, Alpha Condé, who told him that the country was working hard to open more treatment units in Conakry.
In spite of being six months since the epidemic started, a
nurse at Donka Hospital in Conakry, Guinea's largest hospital, had contracted
Ebola after starting an intravenous line on a patient who turned out to be
infected because she failed to wear gloves. This, Dr. Frieden said, was a source
of dismay.
![Ebola Infection - How to Prevent and Control It]( "Ebola Infection - How to Prevent and Control It")
Ebola is a viral infection. This infection is extremely dangerous and it must be immediately contained to prevent an Ebola outbreak.
Sierra Leone has also been struggling, Dr. Frieden said, noting that many health workers at Connaught Hospital in the capital, Freetown, have died of Ebola and that the hospital is still "largely closed." At least 10 people a day have been dying in the surrounding community, sometimes at the hospital entrance.
Many health workers at Connaught Hospital in the Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, have died of Ebola and that the hospital is still "largely closed". Which shows the struggle the country is going through, according to Dr. Frieden. He added that at least 10 people a day have been dying in the surrounding community, sometimes at the hospital entrance.
Source: Medindia
Ebola Infection - How to Prevent and Control It
Ebola is a viral infection. This infection is extremely dangerous and it must be immediately contained to prevent an Ebola outbreak.
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Sierra Leone has also been struggling, Dr. Frieden said, noting that many health workers at Connaught Hospital in the capital, Freetown, have died of Ebola and that the hospital is still "largely closed." At least 10 people a day have been dying in the surrounding community, sometimes at the hospital entrance.
Many health workers at Connaught Hospital in the Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, have died of Ebola and that the hospital is still "largely closed". Which shows the struggle the country is going through, according to Dr. Frieden. He added that at least 10 people a day have been dying in the surrounding community, sometimes at the hospital entrance.
Source: Medindia
Quiz on Ebola
Why is the deadly Ebola virus outbreak making the health experts hit the panic button? Find out from this quiz.
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 World Support for Ebola: US$35 Million Funding from King Abdallah of Saudi ArabiaZaire ebolavirus is commonly known as Ebola. It was previously known as ebola haemorrhagic fever and is a deadly human illness. | Advertisement
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