Ebola outbreak: WHO calls on border countries to prepare, trade and travel restrictions would make matters worse
The World Health Organization (WHO), in a grim warning to the neighboring countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, says to prepare for the arrival of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), as the virus had the potential to spread as travelers move between countries.
Image/Charles Humphrey
“We want other countries in West Africa to be ready – bordering countries, Ivory Coast, Mali, Guinea Bissau – to prepare themselves,” said Pierre Formenty, a WHO medical official. Formenty does not recommend trade and travel restrictions as that would only fuel the Ebola outbreak as people will go into hiding.
There are several issues fueling this largest EVD outbreak in history according to Dr. Formenty. He says transmission takes place in rural communities, with strong cultural practices and traditional beliefs. A change in behavior is necessary to stop Ebola transmission West Africa. Traditional burial practice is still an issue enhancing the spread.
The WHO also says transmission of Ebola in densely populated peri-urban areas (Conakry in Guinea, Monrovia in Liberia) contributes to continuing spread and cross-border transmission of Ebola along the border of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, where commercial and social activities continue.
The World Health Organization (WHO), in their latest outbreak update published Tuesday, reported more cases and fatalities bringing the totals in this “out of control” outbreak to 599 cases and 338 deaths (approximately 56 percent fatality rate), making the current outbreak “unprecedented” in terms of geographical distribution and the numbers of cases and deaths. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
Watch the video, WHO responds to Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa, for more info
In an effort to interrupt further spread of the Ebola virus in the shortest possible time, the World Health Organization is convening a special meeting of Ministers of Health of eleven (11) countries and partners involved in the Ebola outbreak response in Accra, Ghana from 2-3 July 2014 to discuss the best way of tackling the crisis collectively as well as develop a comprehensive inter country operational response plan.
[…] one month ago, the WHO warned of burial practices and containment in travel. The ball is in the Africans court, in my opinion. We […]