medicalcondition:ebola's

Ebola’s spread shows how science needs societies to succeed - Reuters
▻https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-ebola-society-analysis-idUSKCN1TI0H1

Those seeking ways to end the Congo Ebola outbreak’s longevity and persistence say the issues it raises go to the heart of what public health means in the 21st century for countries across the world, rich and poor.

The World Health Organization cites mistrust of authorities in Congo, with attacks on healthcare workers and patients avoiding treatment centers, as major factor in the failure so far to contain the Ebola outbreak. Similarly, it cites anti-vaccine misinformation campaigns in the United States, Ukraine and elsewhere as allowing measles to spread furiously among people who are fearful and confused.

#santé #société

Daily chart: Ebola’s spread | The Economist

▻http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2014/07/daily-chart-22

Ebola’s spread

Jul 29th 2014, 16:01 by R.L.W., A.C.M. and L.P.

The current Ebola outbreak is the worst on record

http://cdn.static-economist.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/original-size/images/2014/07/blogs/graphic-detail/20140802_gdm900_0.png

LIBERIA has closed most of its borders, banned public gatherings and announced quarantines of some communities in an effort to contain an outbreak of the Ebola virus. So far this year there have been 1,201 confirmed, suspected or probable cases of the disease in west Africa. Over 670 people have died. Ebola has no vaccine or cure, and kills up to 90% of those infected. It is transmitted to people by wild animals or by other infected patients. Fruit bats, often eaten by people living in West Africa, are thought to be a host for the virus, which starts with flu-like symptoms but can impair kidney and liver function, and in severe cases damages blood cells, leading to external and internal bleeding.

The current outbreak started in south-eastern Guinea in February and spread to Liberia in March and Sierra Leone in May. Last week Nigeria reported its first probable case, and was put on high alert after a Liberian man died in its most populous city, Lagos. Outbreaks are only considered to be over after 42 days (twice the maximum incubation period) without any new confirmed cases, meaning the current outbreak will continue until at least September.

#eoola