WHO alerts to fresh Ebola virus outbreak in W’ Africa
Ngrguardiannews.com
Sunday, 06 July 2014
A FRESH concern has been raised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) over the evolution of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, which it said remains a serious concern as primary and secondary viral transmissions continue to occur in both urban and rural communities.
Also, three babies have been declared Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)-free after being treated with a revolutionary new drug hours after they were born.
The fourth child only has ‘a very low level’ of the virus after receiving the same treatment.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said at the weekend that its members were ready to return to work provided government signs its “minimal achievable demands.”
The NMA will, however, hold an emergency delegates meeting today to deliberate on the strike.
In a related development, to cushion the effect of current doctors’ strike in some Lagos-based health facilities, senior doctors and contract staff are taking responsibility of sick patients nationwide.
In the same vein, a fresh industrial action, by the medical and health workers union is eminent, if the Federal Government yields to the NMA’s demands.
The WHO, in a statement yesterday, said analyses of the current trend and the potential risk factors for the continuing spread of this epidemic have been conducted.
According to the WHO, the major factors responsible for continuous propagation of Ebola virus outbreak in the sub-region include:
Some negative cultural practices and traditional beliefs, resulting in mistrust, apprehension and resistance to adopt recommended public health preventive measures;
The extensive movement of people within and across borders has facilitated rapid spread of the infection across and within the three countries;
Currently, the coverage of effective outbreak containment measures is not comprehensive.
According to the WHO, new cases and deaths attributable to Ebola virus disease (EVD) continue to be reported by the Ministries of Health in the three West African countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Between July 1 and 2, 2014, 21 new cases of EVD, including 14 deaths, were reported from the three countries, as follows: Guinea, zero new case and two deaths; Liberia, eight new cases with 10 deaths; and Sierra Leone 13 new cases and two deaths. These numbers include laboratory-confirmed, probable, and suspect cases and deaths of EVD.
According to the WHO, as of July 2, 2014, the cumulative number of cases attributed to EVD in the three countries stands at 779, including 481 deaths. The distribution and classification of the cases are as follows: Guinea, 412 cases (292 confirmed, 100 probable, and 20 suspected) and 305 deaths (194 confirmed, 94 probable, and 17 suspected); Liberia, 115 cases (54 confirmed, 24 probable, and 37 suspected) and 75 deaths (38 confirmed, 22 probable, and 15 suspected); and Sierra Leone, 252 cases (211 confirmed, 35 probable, and 6 suspected) and 101 deaths (67 confirmed, 29 probable, and 5 suspected). A table summarizing the statistics is found at the end.
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