U.S. Department of State: Embassy Freetown, Sierra Leone... November 21, 2014 This week, there wer over 500 new Ebola cases across Sierra Leone. These are the known cases. For every one case, the modeling and the swabs from corpses (of which some 30% are positive for Ebola) support the modeling that estimates for every case, there could be 2.5 more. Freetown and Port Loko continue to be hotspots. The number of cases are still are on the rise. In districts where numbers have declined, there are spikes due to unsafe burials or exhumation of bodies after they were safely buried. A major concern is that families are touching and washing bodies before calling 117. We cannot defeat Ebola without behavior change and active identification of cases. This week, the National Ebola Response Center Chief Executive said that the government and donors can build and run treatment facilities, but it will never be enough if there is no behavioral change. If you get Ebola, you know where you got it from: someone you with whom you have had close contact. This is a disease that decimates households. There is no need to be embarrassed if someone gets Ebola. Get them help immediately to increase the odds of survival. If someone is sick, call 117, early treatment saves lives. Your actions can save lives. While waiting, isolate the individual, use protective barriers, and provide as much hydration as possible. If someone dies, do not touch the corpse. Do not wash the corpse before the burial team arrives. People who have died have the highest levels of Ebola in their system and the body remains infectious after death. Save yourself and your family. Your loved one would not want you to contract Ebola and die. Ebola can stop with you with good decisions. We were deeply saddened by the deaths of Dr. Salia and Dr. Kargbo this week. Our condolences go out to their families and those of the 103 health care workers, mostly nurses, who have died from Ebola in Sierra Leone. Health care workers are putting themselves at risk to help fellow Sierra Leoneans. They are treating patients who are battling the disease and have higher levels of the virus in their bodies. They deserve our support and admiration. Without them, we cannot defeat Ebola.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 09:31:24 +0000
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