April 12, 2014

Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Guinea and Liberia (An Update)

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Guinea reported 157 probable and suspect cases of Ebola virus infection, including 101 deaths on April 10, 2014. Of these suspect cases, 66 have been laboratory confirmed positive cases of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF).

World Health Organization (WHO)

One additional health care worker with clinical symptoms has been reported since April 7, increasing the total to 15 health care workers. All cases reported in Conakry (20) have been laboratory confirmed. Other districts with confirmed and suspected cases remain Guekedou, Macenta, Kissidougou, Dabola, and Djingaraye.

UNICEF of Liberia reported on April 9, 2014, 22 probable and suspect cases of EHF, including 14 deaths and 5 laboratory-confirmed cases. Four of these confirmed cases were reported from Lofa County and 1 from Margibi County according to WHO. Other Counties in Liberia under further investigation now include Bong, Nimba, Montserrado, and for the first time, Grand Cape Mount County.

Additional reports of suspect cases in Sierra Leone and Mali are under investigation.

Médecins sans Frontières (MSF/Doctors without Borders) is helping the Ministry of Health of Guinea in establishing treatment and isolation centers in the epicenter of the outbreak.

In Liberia, several international organizations including the International Red Cross (IRC), Pentecostal Mission Unlimited (PMU)-Liberia, and Samaritan’s Purse (SP) Liberia are aiding the Ministry of Health of Liberia by supporting awareness campaigns and providing personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.

The Institute Pasteur in Lyon, France, the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal, the European Consortium mobile laboratory, and the Metabiota/Tulane University laboratory in Kenema, Sierra Leone, and CDC Atlanta are some of the laboratories collaborating to test samples.

To date, 71 cases from Guinea and Liberia have been laboratory confirmed by PCR for Ebola virus.

CDC is in regular communication with its international partners, WHO, and MSF regarding the outbreak. Currently CDC has a 5 person team in Guinea and a 2 person team in Liberia assisting the respective MOHs and the WHO-led international response to this Ebola outbreak.

Source: 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

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