HEALTH Guinea confirms fever is Ebola, has killed up to 59

[Housecarl]

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/23/us-guinea-ebola-idUKBREA2L0MI20140323

Guinea confirms fever is Ebola, has killed up to 59

By Saliou Samb
CONAKRY Sun Mar 23, 2014 12:16am GMT

(Reuters) - Guinea has received confirmation that a mysterious disease that has killed up to 59 people in the West African country, and may have spread to neighboring Sierra Leone, is the hemorrhagic fever Ebola, the government said on Saturday.

Cases of the disease - among the most virulent pathogens known to infect humans, with a fatality rate of up to 90 percent - have been registered in three southeastern towns and in the capital Conakry since February 9. It has never before been recorded in Guinea.

"It is indeed Ebola fever. A laboratory in Lyon (France) confirmed the information," Damantang Albert Camara told Reuters.

Six of the 12 samples sent for analysis tested positive for Ebola, Dr. Sakoba Keita, who heads the epidemics prevention division at Guinea's health ministry, told Reuters.

He added that health officials had registered 80 suspected cases of the disease, including 59 deaths.

"But you have to understand that not all the cases are necessarily due to Ebola fever. Some will have other origins, including a form of severe dysentery," Keita said.

World Health Organization (WHO) officials said that cases showing similar symptoms, including fever, diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding, had also been reported in an area of Sierra Leone near the border with Guinea.

Sierra Leone's chief medical officer, Dr. Brima Kargbo, said authorities were investigating the case of a 14-year-old boy who died in the town of Buedu in the eastern Kailahun District.

The boy had traveled to Guinea to attend the funeral of one of the outbreak's earlier victims.

Kargbo said a medical team had been sent to Buedu to test those who came into contact with the boy before his death.

"HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS"

The international medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) announced on Saturday it was reinforcing its medical and logistics teams in Guinea in response to the epidemic.

It is also flying in 33 metric tons of medicines and equipment and is setting up isolation units in the three affected towns in Guinea.

"These structures are essential to prevent the spread of the disease, which is highly contagious," Dr. Esther Sterk, MSF's tropical medicine adviser, said in a statement. "Specialised staff are providing care to patients showing signs of infection."

Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with infected animals including chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines, according to the WHO.

The disease, which is transmitted between humans through contact with organs, blood, secretions, or other bodily fluids, is most commonly found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, South Sudan and Gabon.

Though no epidemics of the disease have been recorded among humans in West Africa, a variety of Ebola infected a colony of chimpanzees in Ivory Coast's Tai National Park, near the country's border with Liberia, in 1994.

A Swiss scientist, who performed an autopsy on one of the infected animals, contracted the disease but later recovered.

(Additional reporting by Umaru Fofana in Freetown; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Eric Walsh)

 

[Be Well]

Eeek. Now if it could go airborne, watch out. I wonder if that could happen, hope not. The article says it is "highly contagious" -

The disease, which is transmitted between humans through contact with organs, blood, secretions, or other bodily fluids,

But that doesn't sound highly contagious to me. Maybe doing nursing care at home without gloves etc, but in countries with medical care, it doesn't seem as though it would be highly contagious, any more than Hep C is.

 

[Housecarl]

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://news.yahoo.com/ebola-epidemi...-173304833.html;_ylt=AwrSyCOmkS9TERgAq1_QtDMD

Ebola epidemic spreads to Guinea's capital
AFP
By Mouctar Bah
4 hours ago

Conakry (AFP) - An Ebola epidemic which has already killed dozens of people in Guinea's southern forests has spread to the capital Conakry, the United Nations Children's Fund said on Sunday.

Related Stories

Guinea confirms Ebola as source of deadly epidemic AFP
Ebola detected in Guinea victims, 50 dead Associated Press
Guinea confirms fever is Ebola, has killed up to 59 Reuters
Guinea haemorrhagic fever may have crossed into Sierra Leone Reuters

"At least 59 out of 80 who contracted Ebola across the West African country have died so far. Over the past few days, the deadly haemorrhagic fever has quickly spread from the communities of Macenta, Gueckedou, and Kissidougou to the capital, Conakry," UNICEF said in a statement emailed to AFP.

Conakry, a vast, sprawling port city on Guinea's Atlantic coast, is estimated to have a population of between 1.5 and two million.

To date, no treatment or vaccine is available for Ebola, which kills between 25 and 90 percent of those who fall sick, depending on the strain of the virus, according to the World Health Organisation.

The disease is transmitted by direct contact with blood, faeces or sweat, or by sexual contact or unprotected handling of contaminated corpses.

UNICEF said at least three victims of the outbreak, which began on February 9, were children.

View gallery
Ebola Outbreak
Map locating cities hit by Guinea Ebola outbreak (AFP Photo/P.Déré/V.Lefai)

"This outbreak is particularly devastating because medical staff are among the first victims, so far it has killed at least eight health workers who have been in contact with infected patients, hindering the response and threatening normal care in a country already lacking in medical personnel," UNICEF said.

The organisation said it had rushed five tonnes of aid, including medical supplies, to the most affected areas in Guinea's south.

"In Guinea, a country with a weak medical infrastructure, an outbreak like this can be devastating," said the organisation's Guinea representative, Mohamed Ag Ayoya.

"UNICEF has pre-positioned supplies and stepped up communication on the ground to inform and sensitise medical staff and the population on how to avoid contracting Ebola."

The organisation urged Guineans not to attend funerals wherever possible and to avoid all contact with the sick and the dead.

Ebola, one of the world's most virulent diseases, was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1976 and the country has had eight outbreaks.

The most recent epidemic, also in the DRC, infected 62 people and left 34 dead between May and November 2012, according to the country's health ministry.

There are fears it could be used in a biological weapons attack.

According to researchers, the virus multiplies quickly, overwhelming the immune system's ability to fight the infection.

Medical aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said in a statement on Saturday it had set up isolation units for suspected cases in the southern region of Nzerekore and was seeking out people who may have had contacts with the infected.

View Comments (33)

 

[Dex]

It would be nice if they would get into more detail. It's probably Ebola Zaire, there are only 5 variations but that is one of the worst. It is not likely that any of these Ebolas can be airborne except v Reston which killed a lot of monkeys in VA a few years ago, they know it was airborne because it traversed facilities via the air ducts but it did not effect humans. If that one ever crosses the species barrier there will be trouble.

 

[Be Well]

It would be nice if they would get into more detail. It's probably Ebola Zaire, there are only 5 variations but that is one of the worst. It is not likely that any of these Ebolas can be airborne except v Reston which killed a lot of monkeys in VA a few years ago, they know it was airborne because it traversed facilities via the air ducts but it did not effect humans. If that one ever crosses the species barrier there will be trouble.

Seems as though whatever kind of Ebola this may be, is spreading pretty fast for only bodily fluids.

 

[almost ready]

Has spread to Guinea capital according to BBC

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26701733

Liberian government says 5 Guineans who had recently crossed border have died of Ebola-like symptoms - @BBCAfrica

http://newspapertime.com/page/2/

No direct link but have read that 8 of the early Guinea deaths were health care workers and this is creating a crisis due to lack of health care personnel in the (early) affected districts.

https://twitter.com/WHO?original_re...tw_p=embeddedtimeline&tw_w=286483707685126144

Guinea has notified WHO of Ebola outbreak in southeast of the country - confirmed cases positive for Zaïre strain MT

Not familiar with the strains but know some of you are.

 

[Lilbitsnana]

Gregor Peter‏@L0gg0l·5 mins
SERIOUSLY ILL MAN WHO TRAVELLED IN W. AFRICA ISOLATED IN CANADA HOSPITAL, CBC SAYS #ebola

 

[kittyknits]

In the past, it seemed ebola, although extremely deadly, never spread too far because it killed its victims too quickly and sorta burned itself out.

I want to read these articles, but not right before dinner. I'll save them for later.

 

[Oreally]

well, it's the airborne version that we can all be worrying about. if it is that, it'll spread pretty fast in Conakry and it wouldn't be able to be kept hidden.

 

[Lilbitsnana]

Gregor Peterþ@L0gg0l·2 mins
Would be bad if this Canadian guy had Ebola

Gregor Peterþ@L0gg0l·10 mins
Saskatoon man quarantined in Canada hospital with suspected viral hemorrhagic fever after returning from W. Africa http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saska...oon-man-returns-from-africa-1.2584762?cmp=rss …

posted for fair use

Updated'Serious illness' reported after Saskatoon man returns from Africa

Suspect case of 'viral hemorrhagic fever' under investigation

CBC NewsPosted: Mar 24, 2014 3:26 PM CT|Last Updated: Mar 24, 2014 3:53 PM CT


Saskatchewan's deputy medical health officer, Dr. Denise Werker, briefs reporters on a suspect case of 'viral hemorrhagic fever' in Saskatoon. (Trent Peppler/CBC)

A man who recently travelled to Western Africa is "seriously ill" in hospital in Saskatoon, according to provincial health officials.

Officials did not immediately identify the nature of the illness, saying a diagnosis had not been confirmed. The patient has a "high fever", in addition to other symptoms, they said.

Saskatchewan's deputy medical health officer, Dr. Denise Werker, said Monday that the patient — who had arrived from Liberia — was being examined for a suspect case of viral hemorrhagic fever.

"Viral hemorrhagic fever is a generic name for a number of rather exotic diseases that are found in Africa," Werker said.

The illness was serious enough that officials wanted people to know about steps that had been taken.

"Measures have been taken to isolate the patient to ensure the illness is not transmitted," officials said. "Public health officials believe the risk to the public is low, and are investigating."

 

[almost ready]

For the record, the Canadian case, as of this report, has not been confirmed as Ebola. Could be Lassa Fever or some other really awful thing you catch down there, but I'd bet a quarter that they know and are preparing officialdom for the concerns that will arise.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saska...in-saskatoon-after-travel-to-africa-1.2584762

LIBERIA?

Guinea

Sierra Leone

Liberia

Canada

whoa!

Saskatchewan's deputy medical health officer Dr. Denise Werker said Monday that the patient — who had visited Liberia — was being examined for a suspected case of viral hemorrhagic fever.

Oh my goodness.

And with up to a 3 week incubation period and spreadable by semen for 7 weeks after recovery.

Oh my. And we're into the second month on this.........started February 9, first official case.

 

[almost ready]

Here is the complete article from the Canadian paper

Man critically ill in Saskatoon after travel to Africa
Suspected case of viral hemorrhagic fever under investigation

CBC News Posted: Mar 24, 2014 3:26 PM CT Last Updated: Mar 24, 2014 5:57 PM CT
Sask. man ill after Africa trip

Sask. man ill after Africa trip 8:35

Man critically ill in Saskatoon after travel to Africa​

Suspected case of viral hemorrhagic fever under investigation

CBC News Posted: Mar 24, 2014 3:26 PM CT
Related Stories

Suspicion that deadly African Ebola virus has spread from Guinea to Liberia ....

Saskatchewan's Deputy Medical Health Officer Dr. Denise Werker briefs reporters on a suspected case of viral hemorrhagic fever in Saskatoon. (Trent Peppler/CBC)

A man who recently travelled in western Africa is in critical condition in hospital in Saskatoon, according to provincial health officials.

The nature of the illness was not released, but the man has a high fever, in addition to other symptoms. Officials say a diagnosis has not been confirmed.

Saskatchewan's deputy medical health officer Dr. Denise Werker said Monday that the patient — who had visited Liberia — was being examined for a suspected case of viral hemorrhagic fever.

"Viral hemorrhagic fever is a generic name for a number of rather exotic diseases that are found in Africa," Werker said, noting one of the fevers could be Ebola.

Ebola virus

Ebola was first reported in 1976 in Congo and is named for the river where it was recognized. Ebola outbreaks were reported in Congo and Uganda in 2012.

The virus can be transmitted through direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected person, or objects that have been contaminated with infected secretions.

The illness was serious enough that officials wanted people to know about steps that have been taken.

"Measures have been taken to isolate the patient to ensure the illness is not transmitted," officials said. "Public health officials believe the risk to the public is low, and are investigating."
Patient in isolation

According to Werker, depending on the nature of the disease, the people most at risk are health-care workers tending to the patient who do not wear protective clothing.

Werker acknowledged an outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever has been identified in Guinea, Africa, and may have spread to Liberia.

Werker would not say which hospital in Saskatoon the patient is at in order to protect the man's privacy. He was doing work in Africa, although Werker did not know how long he had been there.

She added that people who may have come into contact with the man's body fluids, such as urine or saliva, have been asked to self-isolate and monitor their health and watch for any signs of fever.

Health-care workers are wearing goggles, masks, gowns, gloves and boots when around the patient.

Werker said officials believe the man was not ill at the time he travelled, noting a three-week incubation period is normal for Ebola and Lassa Fever, another one of the suspect diseases. He fell ill after arriving in Canada.

"For the most part, people are not very infectious or contagious in the incubation period," she explained. "This is when their body is becoming ill."

Werker said the course of treatment will depend on identifying the fever involved, and said that a preliminary finding could be available on Tuesday.

Lassa fever

Lassa fever is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa. Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in hospitals without adequate infection control measures. It is treatable, but diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential.

The illness was discovered in 1969.

Werker was notified about the case late Sunday night and has reported it to national authorities.

"There is no risk to the general public," she repeated, when asked about the danger of Ebola. "We recognize that there is going to be a fair amount of concern and that is why we wanted to go public with this as soon as possible."

In addition to Ebola and Lassa, Werker said the other possible fevers could be Yellow Fever or Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever.

"There's also a possibility that this person has another disease," Werker added. "So there may be more laboratory testing that may need to be done."

 

[Flippper]

Seems as though whatever kind of Ebola this may be, is spreading pretty fast for only bodily fluids.

My thoughts as well. So a 14 year old boy travels to Guinea to attend a funeral for an ebola victim and dies from ebola? How does that happen? I'm wondering if there is some other method of transfer than what they are admitting to...

 

[Lilbitsnana]

Here is the complete article from the Canadian paper

It was updated after I posted the complete article available at the time I posted.
CBC NewsPosted: Mar 24, 2014 3:26 PM CT|Last Updated: Mar 24, 2014 3:53 PM CT

vs

update:
CBC News Posted: Mar 24, 2014 3:26 PM CT Last Updated: Mar 24, 2014 5:57 PM CT

I am glad that the updated article includes more info as to what other diseases it could be, etc.

 

[Be Well]

My thoughts as well. So a 14 year old boy travels to Guinea to attend a funeral for an ebola victim and dies from ebola? How does that happen? I'm wondering if there is some other method of transfer than what they are admitting to...

It has to be a much more contagious kind of Ebola, or something else.

I don't like it, whatever it is...

 

[almost ready]

It was updated after I posted the complete article available at the time I posted.
CBC NewsPosted: Mar 24, 2014 3:26 PM CT|Last Updated: Mar 24, 2014 3:53 PM CT

vs

update:
CBC News Posted: Mar 24, 2014 3:26 PM CT Last Updated: Mar 24, 2014 5:57 PM CT

I am glad that the updated article includes more info as to what other diseases it could be, etc.

I'd linked this in my 5:05 but not the text and was afraid it would be deleted from the original and lost. We are clearly in a fast-changing situation. Only 6 weeks from the known index case illness and already regional.

a real head shaker.

Thanks, Lilbitsnana, for your tireless reporting on foreign matters. Don't say it nearly often enough, to you, Mz Kitty, Housecarl Also thanks to Dex, Hacker, Dennis, Vickie, and some other reporting stars who share it when they find it. Much appreciated.

 

[gizbe]

Yikes, this is awfully close to home for me! I have family and friends who work at all three hospitals in Saskatoon so hope they all remain safe.

This world is way too small some days. The news did mention they should have test results tomorrow.

 

[Housecarl]

Seems as though whatever kind of Ebola this may be, is spreading pretty fast for only bodily fluids.

Considering the sanitation and water treatment standards in those locals, there would be the first place I'd look as a transmission source after person to person.

 

[almost ready]

A little more information from Liberia. The 5 who died there from Ebola were Guineans who crossed the border to get to hospitals more convenient there.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201403250919.html

Liberia: Ebola Kills Five in Lofa - Health Ministry Alarms
By Ben P. Wesee, 25 March 2014
More on This


At least five people have died in Voinjama, Lofa County in northern Liberia from the deadly Ebola virus, which reportedly broke out in neighboring Guinea recently.

Confirming the deaths, authorities at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said here on Monday, that the deadly Ebola virus has hit Liberia.

Deputy Health Minister and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bernice Dahn told a special news conference at the Information Ministry Monday that the disease was reportedly spreading along the Guinean border with Liberia, specifically in the communities and towns close to the Guinean towns of Guekedou, Nzerekore, Kissidougou and Macenta.

"As of this morning, March 24, 2014, six cases have been reported of which five have already died-four female adults and one male child.

One of the suspected cases, a female child, is currently under treatment. All the six suspected cases came from Guinea for treatment in hospitals in foya and Zorzor Districts, Lofa County," Dr. Dahn told journalists.

According to her, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and partners have already dispatched an assessment team to Lofa County since Friday, March 21, noting that the team was already investigating the situation, tracing contacts, collecting blood samples and sensitizing local health authorities on the disease.

Dr. Dahn further explained that the assessment team took with them protective equipment, including face masks, gloves and goggles to protect health workers in affected facilities and also advise all residents of Liberia to follow the necessary essential measures to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

He said some of the country's health facilities are closer and more accessible to Guineans living on the border than those in big Guinean cities. The Liberian Health Minister also urged people to avoid close contact with people, such as shaking hands and kissing. She added that cross-border trade is huge between the two countries, which share some cultural and linguistic ties.

The minister further stated that people can be exposed to the Ebola virus from direct physical contacts with body fluids, including blood, saliva, stool, urine, sweat of an infected person and soiled linen used by a patient, saying it can be spread through contacts with objects like needles contaminated with infected secretion.

Last weekend, the BBC quoted medical charity and health Ministry officials in Guinea as reporting that 87 cases of the Ebola virus, with 61 deaths. According to the World Health Organization or WHO, outbreaks of Ebola occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.

It is said to be the first time Ebola has struck Guinea and the Mano river Union basin, with recent outbreaks thousands of miles away in Uganda and Democratic Republic of Cong

 

[Kathy in FL]

Wasn't it suspected at one time that ebola can cross contaminate by dogs and other animals that are asymptomatic? I can't remember what the final findings were or if the board is still out on that one.

A lot of cross contamination occurs in the healthcare setting because of the low PPP (personal protection practices) used in Africa.

 

[night driver]

Remember that in that culture it is INCREDIBLY disrespectful to go to a funeral of a family member and NOT touch the deceased, a LOT!

 

[almost ready]

Update from Guinea: Ebola in the Capital now. A port city of over 2 million, brought to the city by someone who attended a funeral in the affected district.

March 28, 2014

Guinea: US Embassy's Ebola update, March 28​

Via the US Embassy in Conakry: Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Update on Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. Excerpt:

On the evening of March 27, Guinea's Ministry of Health confirmed that there are four individuals with the Ebola virus in Conakry. All four are family members of the patient who died after he attended a funeral in the area of the Ebola outbreak.

According to Guinea's Health Minister Remy Lamah, "all four individuals have been placed in an isolation ward in Donka hospital and the elderly man's family has also been quarantined." There is no evidence of further spread of Ebola within Conakry.

The Guinean government suspects that the Ebola virus vector in Guinea is bats, and can be transmitted through other sources of "bush meat", such as primates and antelopes. The Guinean government has limited the sale of bats and traditional bat dishes to minimize the risk of additional cases.

A person who becomes ill with Ebola is generally sick enough to be bed bound and highly unlikely to be walking in the community. Furthermore, there is no documented respiratory transmission as occurs with influenza, chickenpox and other infections. The only way to catch Ebola is by coming in direct contact of the body fluids of someone severely ill from the disease or by eating contaminated bush meat.

The direct risk of infection is negligible if one has not been in close contact with the body fluids of those actively sick with Ebola. Schools and embassies in Conakry remain open and movement through town should remain unaffected by this disease.

For daily updates on the Ebola hemorrhagic virus, please visit the U.S. Embassy Conakry website.



http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2014/03/guinea-us-embassys-ebola-update-march-28.html

 

[almost ready]

A former Minister in Senegal, Babacar Gaye, has reportedly put this on facebook:

(google translation)


URGENT: according Gaye (PDS), the Ebola virus had reached Dakar
March 28, 2014
Comments

The Ebola virus had reached Dakar. The information was shared by the former Liberal minister Gaye on his facebook page.

18664_babacar_gaye_pdsSelon him, "The Ebola virus was detected very early this morning at the port of Dakar!" Appellant and to widely disseminate information to prevent rapid spread.

There are currently no treatment is contagious and deadly c! highly contagious, the mortality rate can reach 90% and against which there is no vaccine or specific treatment. Alert your family to everyone beware. True or false, informed everyone. Wash your hands all the time and cook food, avoid public transport if possible.

Gaye PDS

http://www.koldanews.com/2014/03/28...-virus-ebola-aurait-atteint-dakar_123698.html

Obviously, this has not been confirmed by health authorities yet, but he appears to be a serious person, former Foreign Minister for the Liberal Government in Senegal, a general serving during Desert Storm (1991) and now working for the UN.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babacar_Gaye

There is also a confirmed case in Nigeria of a 15 year old girl who apparently caught it from a neighbor's pet monkey, and died. Could there be a serious outbreak in the animal kingdom now? Or just coincidence?

 

[almost ready]

Here's the article about the 15 year old girl and ebola in Nigeria


Undergraduate, 15, Dies Of Ebola Virus From Neighbour’s Monkey

catherine agbo
— March 26, 2014

A 15-year-old Medicine undergraduate of Bingham University, Nasarawa State, Temi Ilesanmi has died after she allegedly got infected with the Ebola Virus from a monkey belonging to a neighbour at her parent’s residence at Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.

The distraught father of the deceased, Mr. Olu Ilesanmi, a former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance, in a telephone correspondence described his late daughter as the star of the family.

“In her WAEC examination last year, she made 6 As and 3 Bs. She was the star of the family – bold, brilliant and beautiful! If I live a thousand years, daddy will cry for her every single say,” he said.

A family source, Mrs Olufunke Osunkoya, who spoke with LEADERSHIP in Abuja, yesterday, on behalf of the family, said trouble started early this month when the late Temi became afflicted with a strange kind of fever that defied treatment at the Federal Staff Hospital, Garki Hospital and National Hospital, all in Abuja.

She said the deceased who was secreting blood from her nose and mouth as well as on her phlegm when she coughs or sneezes was later referred to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, where doctors diagnosed Ebola Haemorrhage Fever and she was later transferred to Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State.

Osunkoya said it was at Irrua that doctors queried if the deceased had been to the zoo recently or had come in contact with animals such as monkeys and were informed that a neighbour at her residence had a monkey as pet.

She said based on doctors’ advice, the deceased family had written to the Abuja Environmental protection Board (AEPB), requesting that the monkey which may not have been immunised be removed from the neighbourhood to prevent further spread of the virus.

The family source said to the dismay of all, the neighbour, a woman, whose name was yet to be ascertained, resisted every attempt made by AEPB officials to serve an abatement notice on the residence even as she put up stiff resistance when at the expiration of the abatement notice, the officials came to the house to remove the animal.

However, when LEADERSHIP contacted the AEPB for comments over the matter, the Head of Information and Outreach Unit of the board, Mr. Joe Ukairo, expressed shock over the situation, saying he had not been briefed of the development.

“I’ve not been briefed about this particular issue. You saw the shock on my face when you asked that question. I will have to find out from environmental health and safety department where we have environmental officers because it is within the jurisdiction. When you serve an abatement notice, you give a time frame and then go back for compliance monitoring and if the person has failed to comply, you take him to court, get a court summon and the court will fix a date for hearing which the person will be served. These are the three stages involved.”

Ukairo however insisted that the AEPB Act does not prohibit residents from keeping pets but was against a situation where the pets constitute a nuisance in the environment.

“The AEPB Act 1997, Section 20, Sub 1(b) stipulates that any person who rears or keeps animals like birds likely to cause environmental nuisance such as offensive odour, noise or neglect or fails to confine the animals or birds to his premises is guilty of an offense and liable on conviction to a fine not less than N5, 000 or imprisonment for a term of three months or both fine or imprisonment as the court may deem fit.

“The interpretation of this act as you can see is not against keeping of pets but just to ensure that such pets do not become a nuisance along the line maybe creating offensive odour or making noise. However, the necessary things must be done like the vaccination, with a certificate by the veterinary department.”

When LEADERSHIP visited the No 33, Adekunle Lawal Close, Zone D, Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja residence of the suspected monkey owner, the house appeared to be deserted as several knocks at the gate were not responded to.

http://leadership.ng/news/359535/undergraduate-15-dies-ebola-virus-neighbours-monkey

The absence of dates is concerning.

 

[Be Well]

Considering the sanitation and water treatment standards in those locals, there would be the first place I'd look as a transmission source after person to person.

But it is blood borne, apparently; not fecal oral. Unless I'm wrong.

 

[Be Well]

Remember that in that culture it is INCREDIBLY disrespectful to go to a funeral of a family member and NOT touch the deceased, a LOT!

That is such a bad practice, wow.

 

[Housecarl]

From Africa to Canada: Deadly Ebola virus outbreak gets mobil
Started by PCViking‎, 03-25-2014 08:17 AM
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/show...Canada-Deadly-Ebola-virus-outbreak-gets-mobil
___

There's also a report that Senegal has closed its borders with the infected areas....

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2593035/2-cases-deadly-Ebola-virus-confirmed-Liberia.html

Outbreak of deadly flesh-eating Ebola virus has now spread to three countries and already killed more than 70

Officials brace for epidemic as isolation zones are set up around Africa
No known cure for deadly and painful Ebola virus
Cases now confirmed in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia

By Taylor Auerbach

PUBLISHED: 20:04 EST, 30 March 2014 | UPDATED: 00:58 EST, 31 March 2014
comments

A deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus that has so far killed at least 70 people in Guinea has spread to neighbouring Liberia, the World Health Organisation confirmed on Sunday.

In a statement, the WHO confirmed two samples of blood from Liberia tested positive for Ebola - a virus with a fatality rate of up to 90 per cent - and described the African outbreak as a 'rapidly changing situation'.

In nearby Sierra Leone a further two recent deaths have been attributed to Ebola.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/03/31/article-2593035-1CB5815900000578-272_634x643.jpg

Officials have called for calm in the wake of the outbreak, with the WHO advising against travel restrictions being placed on the affected countries.

According to the UN's chief public health body, 'There have been 2 deaths among the suspected cases [in Liberia]; a 35 year old woman who died on 21 March tested positive for ebolavirus while a male patient who died on 27 March tested negative.'

The worrying news was passed onto the WHO by Liberia's health minister Walter Gwenigale, who told The Associated Press that one of the patients, who died in Lofa County, was married to a Guinean man and had returned ill from a recent trip there.


More...

Is this the most farcical use of taxpayers' money ever: Ethiopian gets legal aid from UK - to sue us for giving aid to... Ethiopia

The second patient is a sister of the dead woman. Mr Gwenigale said she is alive and has been isolated in a medical center outside of Monrovia.

He would not elaborate on the woman's condition or circumstances surrounding her illness 'because we don't want to cause panic'.

Ebola is passed onto humans from animals - especially fruit bats - and often breaks out near rainforests in central and western Africa.

According to a WHO fact sheet: Ebola 'is a severe acute viral illness often characterised by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat.

'This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.'

The intensely painful illness is highly contagious and can be passed on to humans through contact with the bodies of people killed by the virus.

There is no known cure or vaccine for the five viruses which cause Ebola.

Guinea confirmed last week that several victims of hemorrhagic fever in the country's southern region had tested positive for Ebola. Cases have also been confirmed in the capital, Conakry.

The WHO is devoting extra resources to surveillance and tracking of cases in response to the outbreak - which has been dubbed an epidemic by some news sources - and is training health care workers in the region.

Ebola has killed an estimated 1500 people since it was first discovered in Zaire in 1976.

Read more:

Ebola outbreak
Liberian health ministry
Ebola fact sheet

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

[Oreally]

I was reading somewhre today that the patient that died in Conakry, and the three brothers that got sick after he died, travelled around 250 miles to get to the hospital there. Probably traveled by bus.

Can you imagine the sheer numbers of people who might have been exposed by them/him on that trip?

clearly the number is going to rise in the next few days and weeks

 

[Be Well]

I was reading somewhre today that the patient that died in Conakry, and the three brothers that got sick after he died, travelled around 250 miles to get to the hospital there. Probably traveled by bus.

Can you imagine the sheer numbers of people who might have been exposed by them/him on that trip?

clearly the number is going to rise in the next few days and weeks

Has there ever been an Ebola outbreak that traveled this far and infected so many? It must be more transmissible now.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Has there ever been an Ebola outbreak that traveled this far and infected so many? It must be more transmissible now.

It used to be restricted to small villages that had little to no medical capabilities. From what I've read that Africa's habit of only partially following hygiene protocols in health care settings has actually helped to spread diseases ... especially those that are highly contagious like ebola. Shared needles, unwashed bedding, shared bed pans, lack of gloves, etc. area all common in African countries. So you have a sick person seek hospital care and all they are doing is dropping their germs of whatever into a large petri dish.

Similar to the cliché here in the states that the easiest place to pick up an illness is in the hospital. Even more true in health care settings like they have in Africa.

 

[Housecarl]

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://news.yahoo.com/ebola-outbreak-guinea-unprecedented-epidemic-150950731.html

Liberia confirms spread of 'unprecedented' Ebola epidemic
AFP
By ABC News 5 hours ago
Comments 320

Conakry (AFP) - Aid organisation Doctors Without Borders said an Ebola outbreak suspected of killing dozens in Guinea was an "unprecedented epidemic" as Liberia confirmed its first cases of the deadly contagion.

Guinea's health ministry this year has reported 122 "suspicious cases" of viral haemorrhagic fever, including 78 deaths, with 22 of the samples taken from patients testing positive for the highly contagious tropical pathogen.

"We are facing an epidemic of a magnitude never before seen in terms of the distribution of cases in the country: Gueckedou, Macenta, Kissidougou, Nzerekore, and now Conakry," Mariano Lugli, the organisation's coordinator in the Guinean capital, said in a statement.

The group, known by its French initials MSF, said that by the end of the week it would have around 60 international field workers with experience in working on haemorrhagic fever divided between Conakry and the south-east of the country.

"MSF has intervened in almost all reported Ebola outbreaks in recent years, but they were much more geographically contained and involved more remote locations," Lugli said.

"This geographical spread is worrisome because it will greatly complicate the tasks of the organisations working to control the epidemic."

The World Health Organization (WHO) and local health authorities have announced two Ebola cases among seven samples tested from Liberia's northern Foya district, confirming for the first time the spread of the virus across international borders.

Liberian Health Minister Walter Gwenigale told reporters the patients were sisters, one of whom had died.

The surviving sister returned to Monrovia in a taxi before she could be isolated and the authorities fear she may have spread the virus to her taxi driver and four members of her family.

The woman and those with whom she has come into contact are in quarantine in a hospital 48 kilometres (30 miles) south-east of Monrovia, Gwenigale said.

-- Unstoppable bleeding --

Ebola has killed almost 1,600 people since it was first observed in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo but this is the first fatal outbreak in west Africa.

The tropical virus leads to haemorrhagic fever, causing muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, organ failure and unstoppable bleeding.

The WHO said Sierra Leone has also identified two suspected cases, both of whom died, but neither has been confirmed to be Ebola.

No treatment or vaccine is available for the bug, and the Zaire strain detected in Guinea has a historic death rate of up to 90 percent.

It can be transmitted to humans from wild animals, and between humans through direct contact with another's blood, faeces or sweat, as well as sexual contact or the unprotected handling of contaminated corpses.

MSF said it had stepped up support for the isolation of patients in Conakry, in collaboration with the Guinean health authorities and the WHO.

"Other patients in other health structures are still hospitalised in non-optimal conditions and isolation must be reinforced in the coming days," it added.

The WHO said it was not recommending travel or trade restrictions to Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone based on the current information available about the outbreak.

But Senegal has closed border crossings to Guinea "until further notice".

 

[Oreally]

Monotreme, a microbiologist who mods the PFI flu website, said this this morning about the outbreak:

http://www.singtomeohmuse.com/viewtopic.php?p=361097&sid=6a3f5711e6f013e79c70e1f1ac01afc0#361097


Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:33 am Post subject: Reply with quote
I would like to know the reason for the "unprecedented" spread of Ebola at this time. One naturally wonders if the virus has become more contagious. I have seen no statement about this possibility in the media reports."

 

[almost ready]

Actually, I think the governments of Guinea and Sierra Leone are using the word "UNPRECEDENTED" because the disease had never occurred in any of the western countries before, and of course, wasn't expected to show up there. It is the first time for both countries.

This is the likely use of the term, as the disease progression, from a death, a funeral to the attendees, to their families, etc., are pretty routine. The bad part, and another possible meaning, is that it traveled to the big city on the coast which is both a port and has an international airport. This could be a real mess starting, really, any time now.

 

[Oreally]

interesting musing from monotreme at pfi. i'm sure this cross-posting is o.k. with him

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 5:38 am

I continue to wonder whether the infectiousness of Ebola has changed. This is the key issue and should be easy to answer. Ebola is usually not transmitted until people are quite ill and only through direct contact with bodily fluids. This is why the vast majority of cases are usually people who treat the patients or relatives who handled the bodies of the dead victims. Give proper PPE to HCWs and tell relatives not to wash the bodies of the dead and the outbreaks should stop.

We've heard that cases have spread from one country to the other from visitors to Guinea. We need to know whether the visitors were relatives or friends of another victim and were in close contact with an infected individual while in the hospital or handled the body of someone who had died of Ebola. If so, nothing unusual is happening. However, if the visitors' only risk factor is that they visited Guinea, then something very unusual and very bad is happening. This would signal an immediate need to close borders, as some countries are already doing.

Remember. No vaccine. No treatment. 90% CFR.

Easily transmitted Ebola would be pretty much a worst case scenario.

 

[Oreally]

whoa! there's more on this over there. this is very troubling.


this is a translation from a francophone paper in west africa

http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/JA2777p008.xml0/


http://www.singtomeohmuse.com/viewtopic.php?p=361122#361122


Well, in light of what we were just discussing, the chain of transmission described below is not good. It includes a taxi driver whose customer was a doctor infected by the virus. The doctor, the taxi driver, and the other passengers - including a baby - became infected and died.

Guinea : Ebola fever goes north

02.04.2014 at 13:29 By Haby Niakate
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/JA2777p008.xml0/

He went through here, he will return there ... Since the 1970s , this deadly virus spreads terror regularly , especially in Central Africa. For the first time , it occurs in Guinea , even in the capital Conakry, and swarms in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

He was a doctor . He worked at the hospital Gueckedou , this great city of Forest Guinea ( South ) near the Liberian border . In early February, he fell suddenly ill and decided to visit a friend , director of the prefectural hospital Macenta , 80 km away. The driver supports . His ex-wife and her unborn child in the back are also part of the trip. They arrived at nightfall , and of course , the friend opens the door . But within hours , and everything is getting worse "he" - the doctor - dies. Following transport and the washing of the body, then the wake when the family and friends were attending . "This is where it all started," said Mamady Drame , representative of the International NGO Plan Macenta .

A few days later , in fact, the ex-wife , baby and the driver suffered the same fate : lightning-fast and unexplained death . For his part, the hospital director friend went back to work. Every morning , February 24th , he went there on foot. He does not feel well, vomit . But , like every morning , held a meeting with his team. Suddenly , he lost consciousness, resumed. Taken to the emergency room for some tests , he quickly falls into a coma and died almost instantly. His son, who was followed in the pediatric succumbed too. " At first we did not understand what was happening ," said an exhausted Dr. Savané voice, who is temporarily acting in the hospital. " At first, many believed in a mystical phenomenon. It took the deaths multiply that people take it seriously ," says Mamady Drame .

The authorities then talk about a " strange fever ." On March 20, more than a month after the first death, the samples of three patients are sent to the Pasteur Institute in Lyon , France. The next day, the verdict : it is the Ebola virus , against which no treatment or vaccine has never been found , and its species (there are five ) most pathogenic species of Zaire , whose rate mortality can reach 90% . The French laboratory immediately warns the Guinean government , the World Health Organization (WHO) and Médecins Sans Frontières ( MSF). Must act fast. The country already has thirty dead . "Detect an Ebola epidemic takes time , especially in a remote area such as forest and Guinea in a country that has never known, explains Marie- Christine Férir , head of MSF Belgium emergency situations. And the first symptoms resemble those of Lassa fever or malaria . therefore had to make a difference. "

Bats , natural reservoirs of the virus

It is indeed the first time a country in West Africa is affected. This virus, the mere mention sends shivers down your spine , appeared for the first time in 1976 in Zaire (now Congo ) , along the Ebola , who gave his name to River , and Sudan. Since he hit twenty times the continent , in both countries , but also in Gabon , Uganda and Congo contaminant total 2,299 people, 1,540 died .

According to scientists, the natural reservoirs of the virus are certain species of bats found in Central Africa and West Africa . Carriers of the virus , they report no symptoms but can infect monkeys and men, who , themselves, get sick once there was contact or bite. " The absence of an epidemic in the region so far does not mean that the virus was not there present in certain animal species. Only this time , the conditions have been met, at a time and at a specific location , for there to be transmitted from animals to humans , "said Eric Leroy, Director of the International Centre for Medical Research in Franceville ( Gabon ) , and Director of Research at the Institute of research for Development (IRD ) .

In humans, the disease is highly contagious. " Just to be in contact with any body fluid from a person, such as blood, vomit , semen or even sweat ," says Éric Leroy. After an incubation period of from 2 to 21 days , symptoms appear . A sudden fever, headache, general weakness, followed by vomiting and diarrhea. As the virus spreads to the blood and the immune system creates clots that block the vital organs , causing severe internal or external bleeding. The only solution is to treat the symptoms earlier said , including rehydrating patients . But , usually , the end that is also rapid fatal .

Avoid psychosis

" In four days , we have received 33 tons of equipment to respond , says Albert Damantang Camara, spokesman for the Guinean government . Tents, gowns, gloves , disinfectants ... And teams Guinean and foreign doctors were quickly made ​​on the premises. " These bind two targets . First, identify patients and identify all persons with whom they have had contact. Secondly , isolation, while providing their care , to cut the chain of contamination. Dispatched by WHO and MSF , epidemiologists , nurses, and even psychologists and anthropologists, are also moving to the epicenter of the epidemic. Hospitals and housing patients are disinfected and distributed in localities where at least one case was spotted hygiene kits.

It also avoid psychosis. "This is the worst that can happen , says Marie -Christine Férir . In some countries, we have seen patients abandoned by people who had fled. Everything must be done so that people cooperate in reporting suspected cases without fear or shame. " The Guinean Ministry of Health has banned the consumption of meat bat , very rare in the country , however , and launched a communication campaign to reassure residents. But concern is growing . " In the market, the anxiety on the faces , people greet without shaking hands and we go home soon ," reflects Mamady Drame

Virus in Liberia and Sierra Leone

Initially confined to the Forest Guinea , the epidemic has been false alarms : Conakry until ... Canada. In the Guinean capital , tests carried out on site with the support of teams from the Institut Pasteur of Dakar and that of Lyon , were negative.

Unfortunately, since then, the situation has changed . On March 25, the virus is reported in Liberia ( 6 cases , 5 deaths) and Sierra Leone (2 cases , 1 fatal ) . In both countries , all the victims were returning to Guinea . Then, on the evening of 27 , while the Guinean authorities thought that the situation was under control and almost reached the peak , 5 cases were finally confirmed in Conakry, strong 2 million. At the time of going to press , the balance in Guinea was one of 103 suspected cases and 66 deaths .

Now all the neighbors are on alert. Mali , Senegal and Côte d' Ivoire activate their epidemiological surveillance system and discourage " non-essential travel in the epidemic area ." " We were preparing to cope with cholera , like last year , but we did not expect this, concedes Dr. Sekouba Keïta , who manages the crisis within the Guinean Ministry of Health. This event is a true test for our surveillance systems , which have shown some weaknesses. our teams and our infrastructure was not prepared . It will learn from . "

Do not panic!

A pandemic is possible? For specialists, not really. As the mode of transmission , which is one of its strengths , is also, paradoxically , one of his few weaknesses. " Viruses that cross borders are usually transmitted via the respiratory route , which has not yet been proven in the case of Ebola ," said Eric Leroy, the International Centre for Medical Research in Franceville . Why the number of fatal cases rarely exceeds a few hundred. Well below the flu ( 250 000 to 500 000 deaths per year worldwide ) , measles ( 122,000 ) or even Lassa fever ( 5000 , mainly West Africa ) . For a pandemic is possible , so it should be the mode of transmission of Ebola change. An assumption is, however, not excluded.

 

[Oreally]

another article adds this bit of news

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...nes-in-Guineas-fight-against-Ebola-virus.html


A medical aid worker has given the first eye-witness account of the horrific scenes facing doctors and nurses battling to control the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in some of the poorest corners of West Africa.




Naoufel Dridi, who has 13 years' experience working with the charity Médecins Sans Frontières said: "I have never had to deal with this many bodies in these few days on any job before."





The major concern is that the outbreak cannot be contained in Conakry, Guinea's densely-populated capital, where there are already several dozen cases and where it could spread very fast, Mr Dridi added.

 

[Ramius]

Might be a good time to re-read "Executive Orders" by Tom Clancy... amazing how accurate his 'fiction' is, and quite often, predicted the future...

 

[Oreally]

video of Conakry . . . check out the conditions in this city!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av6d-Hb96Z8

the Guinea / Liberia border crossing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atwdTufNROs

very recent Medicins Sans Frontiers clip about their work there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhkXTOkG6Ak&feature=player_embedded

 

[Oreally]

The guy in canada who was in liberia, and came down with something like ebola, but who tested negative for it, is still bad off.

http://metronews.ca/news/saskatoon/...an-appears-to-be-worsening-after-africa-trip/

Condition of ill Sask. man appears to be worsening after Africa trip, friend says

A friend of Rod Ogilvie says it appears the man’s condition is worsening at a Saskatoon hospital after his trip to Africa.

Ogilvie, president of Global Geological Services in Saskatoon, remains in hospital after recently returning from a trip to Liberia.

Last week, health officials said he does not have hemorrhagic fevers caused by the Lassa, Marburg or Crimean Congo viruses, though they hadn’t diagnosed the ailment that has him in critical condition.




George Sharpe, also a business partner of Ogilvie, visited him on Monday and said he remains in intensive care.

“They’re only letting close friends like me and his family in, and he doesn’t look good at all,” Sharpe said.

“Whatever it is, it’s something that is going to take him a long time to get through. Because he’s quite sick right now and it’s about as bad as it can get.”

Ogilvie is on a respirator and unable to communicate, Sharpe said.

The Saskatoon Health Region said it doesn’t have authorization to release information on any patient.

 

[Oreally]

also, check out this chart:

It clearly shows that only even a small percentage of deaths or suspected cases test positive for ebola zaire, or any other variant. Obviously there is at least one other unknown, just as serious virus variant causing these illnesses. With unknown properties.