Ebola epidemic confirmed in Guinea

[cronus]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ebola-epid ... -1.2582861

Ebola epidemic confirmed in Guinea

Guinea has received confirmation that a mysterious disease that has killed 34 people in the West African country, and may have spread to neighbouring 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 per cent — have been recorded in three southeastern towns and in the capital Conakry since Feb. 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. He updated the death toll, which had previously stood at 29.

World Health Organization 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.

(continued)

[pErvinalia]

I'm glad that wasn't in New Guinea.

[Calilasseia]

Question being, which strain?

There are multiple serotypes, with different mortality rates. Ebola Sudan has a mortality rate of approximately 75%, whilst Ebola Zaire has the 90% hit rate.

[JimC]

These are the press releases that Scumple lives for...

[cronus]

These are the press releases that Scumple lives for...

....don't shake hands with no one Jim, give them a air shake from now on. This is what I've spoken about. It is here now. At the door. The world will be a different place when it is over.

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26701733

Guinea deaths: Ebola blamed for deadly fever outbreak



Time to start drinking again methinks....

[mistermack]

It's usually spread by close personal contact, so I'm safe.

But you are advised to always cook Gorilla thoroughly.

[cronus]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.2584762

'Serious illness' reported after Saskatoon man returns from Africa

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.

However, the matter 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," they said. "Public health officials believe the risk to the public is low, and are investigating."

(continued)

[Drewish]

[cronus]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/2 ... healthNews

Guinea Ebola outbreak believed to be deadly Zaire strain

DAKAR, March 24 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Scientists tackling an outbreak of Ebola in Guinea believe they have identified the virus as the Zaire strain, the most lethal of all that "raises the already high level of concern", according to France's Institut Pasteur.

At least 59 people have died after contracting a mystery illness in southeastern Guinea since early February. Six cases have been confirmed as Ebola, a haemorrhagic fever with a fatality rate of as high as 90 percent.

(continued)

[cronus]

http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/vir ... h_actually

Could the Black Death Actually Have Been an Ebola-like Virus?

Things seem to be looking up for rats. After more than 500 years, rats may be off the hook for causing the Black Death, the horrible plague that claimed up to 60% of the European population. In virtually every textbook the Bubonic Plague, which is spread by flea-ridden rats, is named as the culprit behind the chaos. But mounting evidence suggests that an Ebola-like virus was the actual cause of the Black Death and the sporadic outbreaks that occurred in the following 300 years.

(continued)

[pErvinalia]

I feel very happy for you, Scumple!

[JimC]

I feel very happy for you, Scumple!

Indeed, he is in Scumple heaven...

We do need a major European disaster, though, possibly involving a war breaking out after Putin rapes Merkel...

[pErvinalia]

I feel very happy for you, Scumple!

Indeed, he is in Scumple heaven...

[cronus]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TfqbuTBqX8&feature=kp[/youtube]

Time to see if my genes protect me like it says on the tin, ten per cent of Europeans have immune systems modified by the Black Death for that reason.