Latest figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO) have revealed that Sierra Leone has overtaken Liberia with the number of Ebola cases recorded.
The country’s latest estimate of the cumulative number of cases recorded since the deadly disease broke in March now stands at 7,780 in Sierra Leone 7,719 in Liberia and 2,283 in Guinea respectively.
[contextly_sidebar id=”CstBFYHw09jkT3p0A4QRkyzqUbsT8LHr”]The virus has so far killed over 6,000 people in the three West African countries.
In September, Sierra Leone began a three day curfew to enable health workers isolate cases of Ebola in order to halt a further spread.
Apart from these three West African countries, a research by Oxford University in the United Kingdom had predicted that Ghana and 14 other countries in Africa are at risk of animal-to-human transmission of Ebola by virtue of their geography.
A research conducted by the Northeastern University, USA also named Ghana as countries with the largest probability of witnessing an outbreak of the Ebola disease on October 31.
Government has however downplayed the research findings, insisting that Ghana has put in place measures to prevent an outbreak in the country.
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: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana