Guinea reports one additional Ebola death

The numbers of fatalities associated with the Ebola outbreak in Guinea has increased by one since the last update, according to the a World Health Organization update today.

Photo/CDC

As of 25 March 2014, a total of 86 suspected cases including 60 deaths (case fatality ratio: 69.7%) had been reported.

Thirteen of the cases have tested positive for Ebola virus by PCR (six at the CIRI Institut Pasteur Lyon, France, and seven at the Institut Pasteur Dakar, Senegal), confirming the first Ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreak in Guinea.

Results from sequencing done by CIRI Lyon showed strongest homology of 98% with Zaire Ebolavirus last reported in 2009 in Kasai-Occidental Province of DR Congo.

This Ebolavirus species has been associated with high mortality rates during previous outbreaks.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever was first recognized in 1976 and was named after a river in the Congo. Itreceived a lot of popular attention thanks to the best-seller, “The Hot Zone”.

Infections with Ebola virus are acute. There is nocarrier state. Because the natural reservoir of the virus is unknown, the manner in which the virus first appears in a human at the start of an outbreak has not been determined.

People can be exposed to Ebola virus from direct contact with the blood and/or secretions of an infected person. Thus, the virus is often spread through families and friends because they come in close contact with such secretions when caring for infected persons. People can also be exposed to Ebola virus through contact with objects, such as needles, that have been contaminated with infected secretions.

The incubation period for Ebola HF ranges from 2 to 21 days. The onset of illness is abrupt and is characterized by fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness, followed by diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. A rash, red eyes, hiccups and internal and external bleeding may be seen in some patients.

The death rate for Ebola HF can be up to 90%. There is no standard treatment for Ebola HF.

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