Wednesday, December 30th, 2015. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Republic of Guinea, Ebola virus free-zone, which met after 42 days since the blood test last infected person, give negative on two consecutive occasions. Note that in Guinea was where the first case of Ebola was reported two years ago, beginning the spread of an epidemic that caused more than 28,000 infections and 13,000 deaths in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
After the WHO decreed free of virus Guinea, it enters in a period of surveillance for 90 days; in which certain health measures to ensure that any new outbreak is detected and attacked time will be strengthened. Previously, Liberia and Sierra Leone were also declared free of Ebola, and is currently in the phase of vigilance for the same period of days.
This period of time, also will serve to renew the national health services, which suffered major setbacks due to the effects of the epidemic and caused small outbreaks in Nigeria and Mali. Unfortunately, some doctors and nurses from Senegal, United States, Italy and the United Kingdom were infected while attending patients who had acquired the virus.
The original chain of transmission began in Gueckedou, belonging to Guinea, at the end of December 2013; extending to Liberia, Sierra Leone and seven other countries through land and air travel. Between March and November, also ten new Ebola outbreaks associated with the reappearance of the virus in a considerable number of men who had overcome detected previously; according to recent studies, probably due to the virus apparently can stay alive for nine to twelve months in the semen of men infected certain.
Meanwhile, the WHO has warned West Africa as risk zone where the threat of an epidemic persists. Cases of extreme poverty, a poor public health system and certain funeral rituals, are elements that help its spread.
Ebola is a viral disease with a high mortality rate that can reach up to 90% lethality. The symptoms are: sudden fever, muscle aches, general weakness, headaches and throat, vomiting, diarrhea, liver and kidney disorders, severe bleeding. It spreads through contact with bodies and body fluids such as saliva, blood, urine and other secretions.
This disease is also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Its name comes from the Ebola River, where it was identified in 1976 the first case. It occurs mainly in remote villages of West Africa, the main route of transmission to humans is through infected animals, mainly fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family. Sadly, there is still no treatment or vaccine for this virus.
ALFA