The United States of America has declared its willingness to assist Ghana to fight the Ebola disease should there be an outbreak.
Four countries in the West African sub region – Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria have all been hit by disease.
The disease has killed over a 1000 people in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria.
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Finance Ministry on Thursday to release GH₵ 6 million to procure protective gear to fight the epidemic should there be an outbreak in the country.
Also, the USA president, Barack Obama promised on Monday, to provide the needed technical, material and financial assistance to help West Africa combat the disease.
Ghana has not recorded any case of the disease yet.
Speaking to CitiNews, the American Ambassador to Ghana, Gene Cretz affirmed President Obama’s announcement and pledged to provide all the necessary help Ghana would need to deal with an outbreak.
“My guess is that given what has happened in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, there has been a massive assistance.
My sense will be that if we had an outbreak here, which I hope we won’t, my effect will be to copy the models that we’ve done in those countries to provide whatever assistance to Government to contain it,” he added
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) dispatched three courses of the experimental Zmapp drug to three doctors in Liberia on Wednesday and the drug is expected to help prevent the killer disease from spreading further in the sub-region.
About the Ebola Virus
Ebola, a viral haemorrhagic fever, is one of the deadliest diseases known to humans, with a fatality rate of between 55% and 90%. It is spread through contact with the bodily fluids of Ebola patients showing symptoms.
Syptoms of Ebola virus disease (EVD)
- Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
- Fatality rate can reach 90% – but the current outbreak is about 55%
- Incubation period is two to 21 days
- There is no vaccine or cure
- Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery
- Fruit bats are considered to be the virus’ natural host
By: Benjamin Epton Owusu/Citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @BenEpton_