Ebola epidemic confirmed in Guinea

[Babel]

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.

Still does a decent job.

[cronus]

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.

Still does a decent job.

It's the worst strain, and the mortality is down a little indicating it's undergone some sort of change...maybe incubation time is different or it's become airborne?

[pErvinalia]

It's been Scumpelised.

[cronus]

It's been Scumpelised.

I rest my case. You're all gonna die.

[cronus]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2 ... zO1MKh_s0Q

Threatwatch: Will deadly Ebola become more contagious?
New Scientist

Threatwatch is your early warning system for global dangers, from nuclear peril to deadly viral outbreaks. Debora MacKenzie highlights the threats to civilisation – and suggests solutions

Ebola, the deadly haemorrhagic fever made famous by the film Outbreak, has broken out in the West African state of Guinea, a first for that country. So far it has killed 59 of the 86 people known to be infected.

The outbreak is a terrible tragedy for those people and their loved ones, and of serious concern to anyone who has come into close contact with an infected person, but how scary is it for the wider world? Right now, not that scary, but that could change. As equatorial Africa is increasingly urbanised, it could provide the conditions for the virus to evolve into something just as deadly and much more contagious.

Ebola is a hot-button virus. Outbreaks occur every few years – and each one seems to be a major news event. By contrast, there was a measles outbreak in the Guinean capital Conakry a month ago that killed children, but got no international coverage.

That's understandable. Unlike with measles, there's no vaccine for Ebola, and once you are infected, it is terrifyingly lethal. The strain causing the Guinea outbreak, Ebola-Zaire, kills about four of every five people it infects. Outbreak isn't the only Ebola-based fiction, and such potboilers only add to the hype.

(continued)

[Clinton Huxley]

Is it Scumple's birthday or something?

[SnowLeopard]

Most importantly. Is this going to cause zombies

[cronus]

Most importantly. Is this going to cause zombies

Close enough. Don't get any brains on you. Shoot from a safe distance.

[SnowLeopard]

It's a bit worrying that these days all that goes around in my head when I see an article saying "We've developed this amazing new treatment/vaccine/cure for BLAH" all I can think about is... haaaaang on a second, this is how I am Legend started! Is this going to cause Zombies. Although to be fair the doctor that invented it in the film was called Dr Crippen which was just asking for trouble.

[cronus]

It's a bit worrying that these days all that goes around in my head when I see an article saying "We've developed this amazing new treatment/vaccine/cure for BLAH" all I can think about is... haaaaang on a second, this is how I am Legend started! Is this going to cause Zombies. Although to be fair the doctor that invented it in the film was called Dr Crippen which was just asking for trouble.

Zombies are out there. They will not be a pretty sight. You need to be prepared. There is a doubling time for their numbers and the clock is ticking.

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26774343

Ebola: Guinea outbreak reaches capital Conakry

Guinea's government has for the first time confirmed cases of the deadly Ebola virus in the capital Conakry.

Until now, the 62 confirmed deaths have only been in rural areas, although there have been suspected cases, which have since proved negative, in the capital.

There have also been suspected cases in neighbouring West African states Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Ebola is spread by close contact and kills between 25% and 90% of victims.

_________________

"Ebola virus is one of the deadliest killers known," said Ben Neuman, a virologist at Britain's University of Reading.

"If this virus spread between people more easily, it would probably be more deadly than the black plague. Fortunately, up to this point, it has not," he added.

(continued)

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26825869

Ebola outbreak in Guinea 'unprecedented' - MSF

The Ebola outbreak that has killed 78 people in Guinea is "unprecedented", a medical charity has said.

An official with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said the spread of the disease across the country made it very difficult to control.

The West African state is facing a battle to contain the outbreak after cases were reported in areas that are hundreds of kilometres apart.

Ebola is spread by close contact and kills between 25% and 90% of victims.

"We are facing an epidemic of a magnitude never before seen in terms of the distribution of cases," Mariano Lugli, a co-ordinator in Guinea for the aid group said.

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

The outbreak of Ebola had centred around Guinea's remote south-east but it took the authorities six weeks to identify the disease.

It has now spread to neighbouring Liberia, as well as Guinea's capital, Conakry, which has a population of two million people.

Figures released overnight by Guinea's health ministry showed that there had been 78 deaths from 122 cases of suspected Ebola since January, up from 70.

Of these, there were 22 laboratory confirmed cases of Ebola, the ministry said.

Liberia has recorded a total of seven suspected and confirmed cases, including four deaths, the World Health Organization said.

Liberia's Health Minister Walter Gwenigale on Monday warned people to stop having sex because the virus was spread via bodily fluids.

(continued)

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26882013

Ebola outbreak: Mali on alert

Mali is on alert over the deadly Ebola virus after three suspected cases were reported near the border with Guinea, where 86 people have died.

A BBC correspondent says there are tight controls on people entering the capital, Bamako, from the border area.

He says thermal-imaging cameras are screening passengers at the airport in case they have a fever.

The virus, which is spread by close contact and kills 25%- 90% of its victims, has already spread to Liberia.

Meanwhile, an Air France plane which landed in Paris from Guinea was quarantined for two hours on Friday morning after the crew suspected a passenger was infected with Ebola.

"The test turned out negative," a spokesman for the airline said.

Six people have died in Liberia, out of 12 suspected cases, according to the local health authorities.

Sierra Leone has also reported suspected cases, while Senegal has closed its normally busy border with Guinea.

The BBC's Alou Diawara in Bamako says the three people feared to have Ebola have been moved to isolation wards on the edge of the city.

Samples have been sent to the US for testing and the results are expected in a few days.

Mali's government has advised its nationals against all non-essential travel to areas affected by Ebola.

WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic in Conakry told the BBC the reports of cases in Mali were a "concern".

"Everyone should be vigilant and aware of what is going on. But we need to wait for the results to confirm if it is Ebola," he said.

The virus was first spotted in Guinea's remote south-eastern region of Nzerekore, where most of the deaths have been recorded.

But it was not confirmed as Ebola for six weeks.

It has now spread to Guinea's capital, Conakry, where five deaths have been recorded out of 12 suspected cases.

Saudi Arabia suspended visas for Muslim pilgrims from Guinea and Liberia on Tuesday, in a sign of the growing unease about the outbreak.

This is the first known outbreak in Guinea - most recent cases have been thousands of miles away in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

There is no known cure or vaccine for Ebola.

(continued)

[laklak]

Time for prophylactic nukes.

[piscator]

Just accept God's Judgement.