Globally there have been 4493+ Ebola deaths, there are currently 8897+ cases, and 5006+ confirmed cases.
Countries with Ebola cases: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, United States of America, and Spain. Unrest is growing in West Africa, as talk of possible food shortages are spreading as 40% of West African farmers abandon their farms over Ebola fears. Liberian medical teams talked about striking last week, but later backed down, now U.S. Dallas nurses are talking of the same, as they face increased pressure, and were denied proper protocols, and supplies for treating Ebola patients.
– Cynthia K.
Read about the latest Ebola Vaccine Research here.
*Case counts updated in conjunction with the World Health Organization updates and are based on information reported by the Ministries of Health.
As of October 12, 2014
(Updated October 15, 2014)
Total Cases: 8997
Laboratory-Confirmed Cases: 5006
Total Deaths: 4493
Source: CDC
Countries with Widespread Transmission
| Country | Total Cases | Laboratory-Confirmed Cases | Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guinea | 1472 | 1184 | 843 |
| Liberia | 4249 | 950 | 2458 |
| Sierra Leone | 3252 | 2849 | 1183 |
| Total | 8973 | 4983 | 4484 |
Countries with Travel-associated Cases
| Country | Total Cases | Laboratory-Confirmed Cases | Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senegal | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| United States | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Countries with Localized Transmission
| Country | Total Cases | Laboratory-Confirmed Cases | Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 20 | 19 | 8 |
| Total | 20 | 19 | 8 |
Source: CDC
- World Health Organization Global Alert and Response (GAR) Situation Reports
- World Health Organization Disease Outbreak News (DON)
- World Health Organization’s Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR)
- Guinea: Ebola epidemic declared, MSF launches emergency response
Ebola Outbreak Symptoms
Outbreak Update
- On the morning of October 14, a second healthcare worker at Texas Presbyterian Hospital who 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 according to preliminary tests.
- On October 10, a healthcare worker at Texas Presbyterian Hospital who provided care for the index patient reported a low-grade fever and was referred for testing. The healthcare worker tested positive for Ebola according to preliminary tests by the Texas Department of State Health Services’ laboratory. The healthcare worker was isolated after the initial report of a fever and remains so now. CDC confirms that the healthcare worker is positive for Ebola.
- CDC is implementing enhanced entry screening at five U.S. airports that receive over 94% of travelers from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
- A confirmed case of Ebola has been reported in Spain.
- On September 30, 2014, CDC confirmed the first travel-associated case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the United States. The patient passed away on October 8, 2014.
- New cases continue to be reported from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
- Nigeria and Senegal have not reported any new cases since September 5, 2014, and August 29, 2014, respectively. All contacts in both countries have now completed their 21-day follow up, with no further cases of Ebola reported.
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported cases of Ebola. These cases are not related to the ongoing outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. For information on the outbreak in DRC, see the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in DRC page.
Source: CDC
Current West Africa Ebola Outbreak Map:
West Africa outbreak map as of October 15, 2014.
What’s New:
Outbreak Update – October 15, 2014
Updated Case Counts – October 15, 2014
CDC and Frontier Airlines Announce Passenger Notification Underway – October 15, 2014
CDC Taking Active Steps Related to Hospital Preparedness for Ebola Treatment[PDF – 2 pages] – October 14, 2014
Q&As about Ebola and Pets – October 13, 2014
Facts About Ebola Infographic[PDF – 1 page] – October 12, 2014
Outbreak Update – October 12, 2014
Media Statement: Texas Reports Positive Test for Ebola in a Healthcare Worker – October 12, 2014
Medical Waste Management – October 11, 2014
Joint Airport Screening Fact Sheet[PDF – 2 pages] (Also available in Spanish[PDF – 2 pages] and French[PDF – 2 pages]) – October 10, 2014
Updated Case Counts – October 10, 2014
Non-U.S. Healthcare Settings – October 9, 2014
Outbreak Update – October 8, 2014
Level 3 Travel notice: Liberia – Updated October 7, 2014
Level 3 Travel notice: Sierra Leone – Updated October 7, 2014
Level 3 Travel notice: Guinea – Updated October 7, 2014
Level 1 Travel notice: Nigeria – Updated October 7, 2014
Facts About Bushmeat and Ebola[PDF – 1 page] – October 7, 2014
Ebola Contact Tracing, Dallas, Texas – October 5, 2014
What You Need To Know About Ebola[PDF – 2 pages] – October 5, 2014
Update: Sick airline passenger, Newark – October 4, 2014
Updated Case Counts – October 3, 2014
Source: CDC, see full list on their site.
Note: Fever can actually be 99.1, because U.S. Texas nurse had low-grade fever, and at first no other symptoms. So don’t rely on only fever, consider also your exposure to possible Ebola, and go into a voluntary quarantine or isolation for 21 days, also send word or call your local hospital or clinic and let them know your condition, and they will also advise you on what your next steps should be. If you are showing Ebola symptoms, you need to be put in isolation at hospital as soon as possible. – Cynthia K.
Symptoms of Ebola include:
- Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)
- Severe headache
- Muscle pain
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal (stomach) pain
- Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)
Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, but the average is 8 to 10 days.
Recovery from Ebola depends on good supportive clinical care and the patient’s immune response. People who recover from Ebola infection develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years.
Source: CDC
How Ebola is Transmitted:
Because the natural reservoir host of Ebola viruses has not yet been identified, the manner in which the virus first appears in a human at the start of an outbreak is unknown. However, researchers believe that the first patient becomes infected through contact with an infected animal.
When an infection does occur in humans, the virus can be spread in several ways to others. Ebola is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth) with
- blood or body fluids (including but not limited to urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola
- objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus
- infected animals
- Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, or in general, by food. However, in Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats. There is no evidence that mosquitos or other insects can transmit Ebola virus. Only mammals (for example, humans, bats, monkeys, and apes) have shown the ability to become infected with and spread Ebola virus.
Healthcare providers caring for Ebola patients and the family and friends in close contact with Ebola patients are at the highest risk of getting sick because they may come in contact with infected blood or body fluids of sick patients.
During outbreaks of Ebola, the disease can spread quickly within healthcare settings (such as a clinic or hospital). Exposure to Ebola can occur in healthcare settings where hospital staff are not wearing appropriate protective equipment, including masks, gowns, and gloves and eye protection.
Dedicated medical equipment (preferable disposable, when possible) should be used by healthcare personnel providing patient care. Proper cleaning and disposal of instruments, such as needles and syringes, is also important. If instruments are not disposable, they must be sterilized before being used again. Without adequate sterilization of the instruments, virus transmission can continue and amplify an outbreak.
Once someone recovers from Ebola, they can no longer spread the virus. However, Ebola virus has been found in semen for up to 3 months. People who recover from Ebola are advised to abstain from sex or use condoms for 3 months.
Source: CDC
Treatment:
No FDA-approved vaccine or medicine (e.g., antiviral drug) is available for Ebola.
Symptoms of Ebola are treated as they appear. The following basic interventions, when used early, can significantly improve the chances of survival:
- Providing intravenous fluids (IV)and balancing electrolytes (body salts)
- Maintaining oxygen status and blood pressure
- Treating other infections if they occur
Experimental vaccines and treatments for Ebola are under development, but they have not yet been fully tested for safety or effectiveness.
Recovery from Ebola depends on good supportive care and the patient’s immune response. People who recover from Ebola infection develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years, possibly longer. It isn’t known if people who recover are immune for life or if they can become infected with a different species of Ebola. Some people who have recovered from Ebola have developed long-term complications, such as joint and vision problems.
Source: CDC
- Avoid direct contact with sick patients
- Wear goggles to protect eyes
- Clothing and clinical waste should be incinerated and any medical equipment that needs to be kept should be decontaminated
- People who recover from Ebola should abstain from sex or use condoms for three months
Source: BBC News
Useful Links:
- Information Resources on Ebola – WHO
- WHO Ebola News
- CDC Ebola Information Page
- CDC West Africa Latest Ebola Outbreak Updates
- CDC Congo Latest Ebola Outbreak Updates
- CDC Travel Notices
Read my previous post:
- July 10, 2014, 635+ Deaths From Ebola
- August 4, 2014, 932 Deaths From Ebola
- August 22, 2014, 1350 Deaths From Ebola
- August 31, 2014, 1850 Deaths From Ebola
- September 14, 2914, 2630 Deaths From Ebola
- September 29, 2014, 3091 Deaths From Ebola
- October 2, 2014, 3330 Deaths from Ebola
- October 3, 2014, 3431 Deaths from Ebola
- October 8, 2014, 3865 Deaths from Ebola
- October 15, 2014, 4493 Deaths from Ebola
Cynthia Kelly-Yildirim
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