Ebola cases may rise to 10,000 a week: WHO
Published on 16th October 2014, 7:40
The World Health Organisation WHO warned that Ebola outbreak could grow to 10,000 new cases a week within two months. Since its outbreak the death toll from the virus has reached to 4,447 people in west Africa.
New cases are likely to grow to 5,000 and 10,000 a week by early December said Dr Bruce Aylward, the WHO assistant director-general.
He also said that regular updates from WHO show that out of 8,914 cases, 4,447 have reportedly died and the assumption for the rate of death was held at 50%. But he pointed out that as many deaths were not reported the death rate should be held at 70%.
With investigations being carried out it was seen that only 30% people were surviving in all the three hardest hit countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The mortality rate is very high particularly in these places.
The £9m screening system in Heathrow has been criticized. Experts feel that the screening will not pick up those who have the virus but are not yet symptomatic. The nurse who caught Ebola was given blood transfusion from Dr Kent Brantly who recovered from the disease. Nurse Nina Pham contacted the disease caring for Thomas Duncan who died in Texas Health Presbyterian hospital, Dallas after visiting Liberia.
People from all over the world are contributing large sums for Ebola treatment.
The President of the United States felt that a lot more needs to be done in combating Ebola.
The UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response has set targets to isolate 70% of suspected cases in west Africa and safely bury 70% of the dead within the next 60 days – described as the 70-70-60 plan. But Aylward felt that the target should be set to 90 days instead.
The Ebola cases are increasing and there is need for hospital beds. There is also a shortage in trained and experienced people who can lead the effort felt Aylward.
The virus is moving geographically. Large treatment centers are still in the process of building their staff. UK has set up community care centers in Sierra Leone where people can stay and get basic care and not endanger their families. People having Malarias are afraid to go to hospitals in fear of contacting Ebola.
The UN medical worker infected with Ebola too has died in Germany despite “intensive medical procedures”.
A 56 year old man died in St Georg hospital Leipzig. The man tested positive for Ebola on 6 October, prompting Liberia’s UN peacekeeping mission to place 41 other staff members under close medical observation.
In Germany the first man infected with Ebola was treated and he was able to return to his home in Senegal. A Uganda aid worker is still undergoing treatment.
