The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, affecting multiple countries. As of 15 October 2014, WHO released new figures stating that more than 8,997 confirmed, probable and suspected cases have been reported in seven affected countries: Liberia, Nigeria Guinea, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Spain, and the United States of America. 4,493 people have died. (Case fatality rate of about 50%). The situation in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone is deteriorating, with widespread and persistent transmission of EV. These severely affected countries have very weak health systems, lacking human and infrastructural resources. WHO estimates that Liberias number of Ebola cases is likely even greater than the number that has been reported as there is difficulty gathering data in Liberia. In Nigeria, there have been 20 cases and 8 deaths. In Senegal, there has been one travel-associated case. Nigeria and Senegal have not reported any new cases since September 5, 2014, and August 29, 2014, respectively. In Spain there has been one case. These cases are thus considered to be contained, with no further spread in these countries (localised transmission). In the United States (Dallas, Texas), 2 cases and 1 death have been reported. The first index case in US involved an imported case in a man who had traveled to Dallas, Texas from West Africa on 30 September 2014. The patient did not have symptoms when leaving West Africa, but developed symptoms approximately four days after arriving in the United States. The person sought medical care at Texas Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas after developing symptoms consistent with Ebola. He died of Ebola on October 8 and was cremated. On October 10, a healthcare worker at Texas Presbyterian Hospital who provided care for the index patient fell ill and was tested positive for Ebola, and is currently being treated at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. On 14 October, a second healthcare worker at Texas Presbyterian Hospital who also provided care for the index patient reported to the hospital with a low-grade fever and was isolated. The healthcare worker tested positive for Ebola; she however, travelled by a Frontier airlines flight on 13 October evening, the day before she reported symptoms. In view of the proximity in time between the evening flight and first report of illness the following morning, CDC is now reaching out to 132 passengers who flew on Frontier Airlines flight 1143 Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth on 13 October. CDC is also working with other U.S. government agencies, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other domestic and international partners and has activated its Emergency Operations Center to help coordinate technical assistance and control activities with partners. CDC has also deployed teams of public health experts to West Africa and will continue to send experts to the affected countries.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 07:11:18 +0000