Ebola Disease Takes Toll On Guinea, Sierra Leone, Other West African Countries

It’s not a time to fret or be afraid but a period to be vigilant and improve on personal hygiene such as regular hand washing. … Continue reading Ebola Disease Takes Toll On Guinea, Sierra Leone, Other West African Countries


ebolaIt’s not a time to fret or be afraid but a period to be vigilant and improve on personal hygiene such as regular hand washing.

This advice is coming from a public health practitioner as the Ebola Viral Disease takes its toll on Sierra Leone, Guinea and other countries in West Africa.

In March 2014, a rapidly evolving outbreak of Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) started in forested areas of South Eastern Guinea, a West African country.

Confirmed and reported cases of the viral infection have been recorded in Liberia, Mali and Sierra-Leone, but Sierra-Leone is the hot bed now.

A quick look at the figures from the World Health Organization: as at May 29th, the 34 new cases in Sierra Leone include 7 confirmed, 3 probable and 24 suspected, as well as 1 death in five districts.

With previous cases, the country now has a total of 14 confirmed and 36 suspected EVD cases, including 6 deaths.

On the other hand, Guinea’s 10 new cases brings the country’s total to 291, including 193 fatal cases, now the risk is getting closer to Nigeria.

The drivers of the infection are fruit bats which are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus. The virus is transmitted when a person comes in contact with the blood or body fluids of an animal or person who is infected. The symptoms of Ebola viral disease show up 2 to 21 days after the infection.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has said all port health posts and border medical centres have been put on high alert to screen travelers from countries with confirmed Ebola Hemorrhagic fever occurrences.

There is no vaccine or cure for Ebola Viral Disease, do all you can to protect yourself, hand washing with soap and water especially after handling animals and improved personal hygiene would help and if you or anyone around you has a fever that seem to defy medical treatment at this time, report to the nearest health facility.