In the United States, the National Institutes of Health announced it will begin testing an experimental Ebola vaccine in people as early as September. Ebola triggers CDC travel warning Son of American battling Ebola speaks out Could Ebola makes its way to the U.S.? The federal agency has been working on the vaccine over the last few years and says theyve seen positive results when they tested it on primates. The NIH announcement came the same day as the CDC issued a Level 3 alert for Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, warning against any nonessential travel to the region. As of now, the outbreak has been confined to West Africa. But it could spread via travel, especially since people who have Ebola may not know it; symptoms usually manifest two to 21 days. The symptoms include fever, headaches, weakness and vomiting, and at an advanced stage there is internal and external bleeding. The Ebola outbreak is believed to be the worst in history, and even in a best-case scenario, it could take three to six months to stem the epidemic in West Africa, Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, told reporters on Thursday. The rate of infection has slowed in Guinea, but it has increased in neighboring Sierra Leone and Liberia. As infection accelerates, some aid groups are pulling out to protect their own. Samaritans Purse and the missionary group Serving in Mission have recalled all nonessential personnel from Liberia. The Peace Corps announced Wednesday it is doing the same, removing its 340 volunteers from the three severely affected nations. While there are no confirmed cases, a Peace Corps spokeswoman said two volunteers came into contact with someone who ended up dying from the virus. Those Americans havent shown signs of Ebola but are being isolated just in case. The spokeswoman said they cant return home until they get medical clearance. Meanwhile, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Sierra Leones President Ernest Koroma both canceled trips to the United States, and Koroma declared a state of emergency. Koroma announced an action plan to tear down many barriers that international medical workers say they face while fighting disease. Sirleaf said on CNNs The Lead with Jake Tapper that the country is in desperate need of people with expertise in treating and dealing with Ebola. Some residents in affected villages have accused medical workers of bringing the disease into the country and have barricaded their towns or otherwise blocked access to Ebola victims. Koroma said he will deploy police and military to accompany the aid workers. They will search house to house for the infirm and enforce orders designed to curb the virus spread.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 01:12:27 +0000
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