Ebola 'out of control' in West Africa as health workers rush to trace 1,500 possible victims
Fear, mistrust of Western medicine and difficulties reaching remote areas mean hundreds of potentially infected people have not yet been found.
Hundreds of West Africans could be carrying the deadly Ebola virus and not
know it, potentially infecting hundreds more, as cash-strapped governments
and overwhelmed aid agencies struggle to contain the virus's spread.
At least 1,500 people have not yet been traced who are known to have come into
contact with others confirmed or suspected to be infected with the
haemorrhagic fever, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) told The Telegraph.
Many more could be moving freely in the three countries battling the virus, Guinea,
Liberia
and Sierra
Leone, but fear of the illness and mistrust of Western medicine
means they refuse to come forward to speak to doctors.
The current outbreak is the worst ever. So far 467 people have died and health
staff have identified at least 292 other suspected or confirmed cases.
Ebola is transmitted by coming into contact with bodily fluids of an infected
person. It has no cure and as many as 90 per cent of its victims die, often
from uncontrollable internal and external bleeding.
Related Articles
-
West African Ebola epidemic 'out of control'
24 Jun 2014 -
Ebola rap warns West Africans of virus's dangers
28 May 2014 -
Mob attacks Ebola treatment centre in Guinea
05 Apr 2014 -
'Isolated' Liberian Ebola case raises fears of fresh outbreaks across West Africa
04 Apr 2014 -
Mali reports three suspected Ebola cases
04 Apr 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment