As of July 12, the
cumulative number of Ebola virus cases in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra
Leone was at 964, including 603 deaths. The death toll has almost
doubled in a month's time; reported deaths in the three countries in
mid-June was 350.
A coordination center is
being established in Conakry, Guinea, where the World Health
Organization is sending epidemiologists, communications experts and
other support staff. Trained volunteers are also helping officials find
possible cases and isolate infected individuals.
The Ebola outbreak in Guinea was first reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in March. By the end of the month, UNICEF said at least 59 out of 80 people who contracted Ebola there had died. In April, the outbreak spread to Conakry, Guinea's capital, and to neighboring countries Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Ebola typically kills 90%
of those infected with the virus, but the death rate in this outbreak
has dropped to roughly 60% thanks to early treatment.
Officials believe
that the Ebola outbreak has taken such a strong hold in West Africa due
to the proximity of the jungle --where the virus originated -- to
Conakry, which has a population of 2 million. Since symptoms don't
immediately appear, the virus can easily spread as people travel around
the region. Once the virus takes hold, many die in an average of 10 days as the blood fails to clot and hemorrhaging occurs.
The disease isn't
contagious until symptoms appear. Symptoms include fever, headache and
fatigue. At that point, the Ebola virus is spread via bodily fluids.
The CDC
says this particular outbreak is challenging to contain due to weak
healthcare infrastructures and community mistrust and resistance in the
affected countries. It is the first time a major outbreak of the virus
has been seen in West Africa, which aids in the confusion and fear over
the current situation, the WHO said on its website.
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