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Ebola

Ebola466 posts

Ebola is a disease caused by an ebolavirus. Symptoms start two days to three weeks after contracting the virus, with a fever, sore throat, muscle pain and headaches. Vomiting, diarrhea and rash follow, along with decreased function of the liver and kidneys. Victims bleed both within the body and externally. From 1976 through 2013, the World Health Organization reported a total of 1,716 cases. In 2013 an outbreak started in Guinea, spreading to neighboring African countries and infectied doctors, some of who were transported back to the US for treatment. The virus continues to claim victims as it spreads to more countries.

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23 Feb, 2016

Back in hospital

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Cafferkey returns to hospital for a third time after contracting the virus initially two years ago. She is being treated at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University hospital. NHS spokesperson:

Under routine monitoring by the Infectious Diseases Unit, Pauline Cafferkey has been admitted to hospital for further investigations.

14 Jan, 2016

Liberian epidemic ends

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Liberia passes two 21-day incubation cycles with no new Ebola cases, passing the threshold for declaring the country’s epidemic to be over. This has led the WHO to declare West Africa’s Ebola epidemic to be over as well, although the organization cautions that the region may still see flare-ups. Ebola killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa during the epidemic, which began in late 2013. WHO chief Chan:

So much was needed and so much was accomplished by national authorities, heroic health workers, civil society, local and international organizations and generous partners.

16 Oct, 2015

Condition deteriorates

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Doctors say Cafferkey is now in critical condition, and that she is suffering an “unusual late complication” of her previous infection. Health authorities have emphasised that the risk to the general public remains low. However, 58 people who had been in close contact with her are being monitored by Health Protection Scotland, 25 of them have been vaccinated.

9 Oct, 2015

Admitted to hospital

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After falling ill in Glasgow, Cafferkey is flown to London by military aircraft and admitted to the specialist treatment isolation unit at Royal Free Hospital in London.

We can confirm that Pauline Cafferkey was transferred from the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow to the Royal Free London hospital in the early hours of this morning due to an unusual late complication of her previous infection by the Ebola virus. She will now be treated in isolation in the hospital’s high-level isolation unit under nationally agreed guidelines. The Ebola virus can only be transmitted by direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person while they are symptomatic, so the risk to the general public remains low.

18 Sep, 2015

Fast tracked

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ZMapp is granted fast track approval in America. LeafBio says the grant is an “important milestone” which brings them closer to eventually gaining approval. The drug has been administered under emergency use authorization to nine infected patients in Africa in addition to two infected missionaries in Europe during its first clinical trial. LeafBio CEO Whaley:

We are gratified to receive this designation for ZMapp. We are hopeful that this step will accelerate its access once safety and efficacy are demonstrated to satisfaction by FDA in ongoing clinical trials.

31 Jul, 2015

Ebola vaccine trial successful

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The rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine against Ebola is 100% successful in trials involving 4000 people which are conducted in Guinea. Brende says:

Having seen the devastating effects of Ebola on communities and even whole countries with my own eyes, I am very encouraged by today’s news. This new vaccine, if the results hold up, may be the silver bullet against Ebola, helping to bring the current outbreak to zero and to control future outbreaks of this kind. I would like to thank all partners who have contributed to achieve this sensational result, due to an extraordinary and rapid collaborative effort.

13 Jul, 2015

Study: Inhalation Ebola vaccine cures monkeys

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14vaccines-master675Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch and NIH use an aerosol vaccine that activates immune cells in the respiratory system of rhesus macaques and provides full protection against the virus. The vaccine can be used without any medical administration, so that developing countries can help themselves. Doctors say it’s not a breakthrough because a cure for monkeys does not necessarily have to be successful for humans as well. Virologist:

The initial several decades of attempts to develop a vaccine against the Ebola virus were unsuccessful. This is one of the few vaccines that works.

 

10 Jul, 2015

Ebola returns to Liberia

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Ebola returns to Liberia with five recent cases of the disease. Sequencing data show the virus is genetically similar to the past Ebola outbreak. WHO conducts further tests to see if people unknowingly had the virus and explores other possibilities such as sexual transmission.

There are a considerable number of survivors. And we also know that it persists in certain bodily fluids, and that it can subsist for at least six months.

$3.4 Billion pledged for Ebola

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International donors pledge $3.4 billion for a total of $5.2 billion to help rebuild Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone following the Ebola epidemic. The U.N. will follow up to ensure the delivery of the money. New pledges include $745 million from the African Development Bank, $495 million from the European Union, $360 million from the Islamic Development Bank, $340 million from Britain, and $266 million from the United States. Liberian President Sirleaf says funds will revive the economies and societies of affected areas.

The world as a whole has a great stake in how we together respond to this global thread. Virus diseases, just like terrorism, know no national boundaries.

8 Jul, 2015

Attends NY Ebola summit

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Mugabe arrives in New York ahead of the United Nations International Ebola Recovery Conference, accompanied by First Lady Grace Mugabe, Health Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister and Finance Minister. They are expected to be confined within a 25-mile radius due to travel sanctions.

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association is warning that the health delivery system in the country is deteriorating owing to government lax in controlling medical aid societies and alleged corruption, citing the auditor general’s report which alleged that local resources are being abused and are short changing patients.

7 Jul, 2015

WHO can’t handle Epidemics

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A 28 page report by a panel led by Dame Stocking says the World Health Organisation unable to handle public health emergencies judging from its performance in the Ebola epidemic. The report suggests fault in WHO’s financial preparedness, reliance on diplomacy, and lack of decisive actions by director general Chan. Furthermore, the report recommends regional and country representatives to play a more active role in pushing their governments to take immediate action to epidemics; this is in response to WHO’s delayed declaration of an Ebola crisis only after the death of 1,000 people.

WHO does not currently possess the capacity or organisational culture to deliver a full emergency public health response.

WHO accepts the report’s criticism and prepares improvements to its workforce and financial reserves. Medecins Sans Frontieres Dr. Liu:

The question is how will this translate into real action on the ground in future outbreaks?

1 Apr, 2015

Experimental vaccine safe, effective

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Early stage clinical trials find experimental vaccine VSV-ZEBOV is safe and promotes antibody response in all 40 adult recipients according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). Some recipients experience fever, but except in one case, the fever abates within 24 hours of vaccination. Volunteers are being enrolled in Liberia for the second phase of the trial. Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), states

Until a safe and effective vaccine is available, the world will continue to be under-prepared for the next Ebola outbreak.

11 Mar, 2015

British military health worker tests positive

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A female health worker of British military stationed in Sierra Leone tests positive for Ebola. Ministry of Defense:

Despite there being stringent procedures and controls in place to safeguard UK service personnel, there is always a level of risk in deployments on operations of this type.

9 Mar, 2015

Liberia removes crematorium

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Liberian government dismantles a crematorium and removes drums containing the ashes of more than 3000 Ebola victims as outbreak of the disease is contained. Acting Information Minister Isaac Jackson:

These activities — these prayers services — are taking place in an effort to accord these people the utmost respect considering the circumstances under which they were cremated and they parted with their families. We think it is only but proper that we now accord them — the over 3,000 people cremated — respect in a more dignified way.

5 Mar, 2015

Liberia’s last Ebola patient cured

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Beatrice Yardolo, 58, an English teacher is cured. It is the last confirmed case of Ebola in Liberia,  Tolbert Nyenswah, the deputy health minister of Liberia:

There was a lot of excitement because we feel that this is a victory, But it’s not over yet. We are still cautioning people. We told them they must still protect their villages, their towns. They should report any suspicion of Ebola to the health teams. We still have a response that is tight.

2 Mar, 2015

Plans to sue

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Pham plans to file suit against Texas Health Resources for ‘corporate neglect, alleging that Texas Health Resources failed to develop policies and provide proper training for staff dealing with Ebola patients.

I wanted to believe that they would have my back and take care of me, but they just haven’t risen to the occasion….I was the last person besides Mr. Duncan to find out he was positive. You’d think the primary nurse would be the first to know. … I broke down and cried, not because I thought I had it but just because it was a big ‘whoa, this is really happening’ moment.

Texas Health Resources spokesman Wendell Watson:

Nina Pham bravely served Texas Health Dallas during a most difficult time. We continue to support and wish the best for her, and we remain optimistic that constructive dialogue can resolve this matter.

23 Feb, 2015

Promising Ebola drug

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An experimental antiviral drug, called favipiravir, is still in early stages in West Africa, and too few people have been treated to really know whether the drug helps shows some promise in the fight against Ebola in West Africa. It is only effective, however, if patients get it early. The survival rate of 85% in the ones who have received it is encouraging. European Commission for Research Moedas:

If these results are confirmed by the ongoing clinical trial, it will be the first-ever treatment to be deployed against this deadly disease during the current outbreak.

21 Feb, 2015

Liberia exposure

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Eight healthcare workers are being sent home due to Ebola exposure from S.D. Cooper Hospital in Monrovia. They will be under heavy observation for 21 days. This number still remains far lower than last year when the West African nation had the worst outbreak in history. To this date, Liberia reports 3,900 Ebola deaths according to the World Health Organization. Assistant Health Minister for the country, Nyenswah states:

You cannot be under observation and then at the same time go to work to expose people. No way.

17 Feb, 2015

Troops isolated

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About 60 American troops enter isolation at Fort Bragg in North Carolina after returning from Africa. The troops were in an area where the Ebola virus is present. Since nobody had direct contact with infected people, officials believe none of the troops to be infected:

This lets us start the calendar with that confidence, and then as I said we’ll be checking them every twelve hours with the same questions and the same temperature screening to make sure that they have no developing concerns,

4 Jan, 2015

Health worker evaluated

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An American health worker, possibly exposed to Ebola in Sierra Leone, enters the University of Nebraska Medical Center for evaluation and testing. Taylor Wilson, hospital spokesman:

There will be 21 days of monitoring and if the disease does develop, obviously treatment would begin pretty quickly.