Sierra Leone has seen its death toll from the
Ebola virus illness double in the past week, reaching 12 just as health
officials express dismay in trying to control the deadly outbreak.
by John
Tyburski
Copyright © Daily
Digest News, KPR Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
West Africa,
mainly Guinea, has been hit hard recently by
an outbreak of the Ebola virus, one of the world’s most deadly viral illnesses
for which there are no cures or vaccines available. Guinea is the epicenter of
this recent outbreak that has claimed over 200 lives this year. Now Sierra
Leone health officials are expressing fading optimism in controlling the virus
within their borders as the death toll in that nation jumped to 12, up by
six from a week ago. In addition to Guinea and Sierra Leone, Liberia has
reported 12 suspected cases of Ebola and nine deaths.
The Health
Ministry said that the deaths were in the Kailahun district near the border
with Guinea, in the eastern part of the country. Now there are 42 confirmed
cases, including new ones recorded in the Kambia district to the north. The new
cases indicate spreading as people travel and transmit the virus.
Ebola is
also known as hemorrhagic fever because of the primary symptoms of high fever
and bleeding. Brain damage can also occur, and the virus can kill up to 90
percent of those it infects. Ebola virus is passed from one individual to
another through bodily fluids such as urine, sweat, saliva, and blood. A
substantial aspect of the illness that makes it so difficult to control is its
incubation period–up to 21 days. People may be exposed and then move about over
the subsequent three weeks, infecting others before symptoms present. What is
more, patients who recover may still infect others up to seven weeks after
their symptoms subsided.
As with most
viral illnesses, supportive care focusing on hydration can facilitate recovery,
and the most vulnerable are those at the young and old ends of the age
spectrum. Chances of surviving the illness improve if it is caught early.
Unfortunately, however, many in the affected regions tend to shun medical aid
and ride it out or turn to traditional healers instead.
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