Guinea - Ebola: Thread documenting initial outbreak - March 2014 +

[Pathfinder]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 137 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 3, 2014

Translation Google

Fri, April 4, 2014 , 4:12 p.m.
Posted By Diallo Mame

Macenta : confrontation between population and humanitarian MSF

While Guinea continues fight against viral epidemic populations Macenta city affected by Ebola has recorded uprisings against M?decins Sans Fronti?res ( MSF) , an NGO deployed on the ground since the announcement of disease in Guinea - has been learned .

The news was confirmed to us by MSF on the phone this afternoon . According to the spokesman , Sam Taylor " one of our teams has just informed us that our NGO had an incident with the local community Macenta but we try to understand why this happened to continue our work in this area " has he said.

This happens in the neighborhood Patrice . And according to a resident of Macenta reached by your daily online , MSF went disinfected by spraying a house where there was a death that showed symptoms of hemorrhagic fever . Once there , they found a woman who opposed this action on the grounds that the disease is not there . Without the consent of the family, agents MSF deployed there have carried out their mission. A thing that would upset the population on site and caused an uprising against MSF , he says.

No damage is recorded at the moment but at the precise time , we have learned that the population moves towards the base of M?decins Sans Fronti?res at the exit Macenta Zimodou in the neighborhood.

http://guineenews.org/2014/04/macenta-echaffourees-entre-la-population-et-les-humanitaires-du-msf/

[Pathfinder]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 137 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 3, 2014

Translation Google

Macenta : MSF has temporarily suspended its operations after the attack on his store

Published Friday, April 4, 2014 5:38 p.m.
Written by Amadou Diallo Kendessa

MSF has temporarily suspended Friday its activities after the attack on his store drug storage , learned lejourguinee.com .

The suspension follows a popular demonstration against the doctors who are working hard to eradicate the epidemic in the region . "The warehouse drug M?decins Sans Fronti?res has been vandalized by angry protesters ," said a source based Macenta by telephone contact.

The citizens of this town in southern Guinea- very angry - reproach MSF dramatize Ebola . According to our source , while patient is suspect in the area. And usually those who have similar signs Ebola , never return .

The citizens of this city think it's killing MSF and not Ebola . "Any person who is vomiting or diarrhea, immediately packed in a plastic after being sprayed with disinfectant agents M?decins Sans Fronti?res. They do not even want to know if the person suffering from malaria , measles , typhoid or other illness "reflects a citizen quoted by mosaiqueguinee .

The same source accused " all patients who are supported by MSF in the hospital did not emerge alive. M?decins Sans Fronti?res is just to eliminate Macenta citizens and that is why people shouted their ras -le-bol Friday to say stop ! " .

At last , the local authorities are trying to suppress the demonstrators for a return to calm. Finally, note that the epidemic has killed nearly 90 people since its inception in January . Today 137 cases distributed among Gueck?dou , Macenta , Conakry, and Dabola Dingiraye there are .

Amadou Diallo Kendessa

664 24 54 78

http://www.lejourguinee.com/index.php/fr/societe/3176-macenta-msf-suspend-temporairement-ses-activites-apres-l-attaque-de-son-magasin

[Pathfinder]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014

Translation Google

Embassy of France in Conakry

Ebola : update April 4

Point status Friday, April 4, 2014

1 . 2 new suspected cases in Conakry , 4 Gu?k?dou .

2 . Overall Performance : 143 suspected cases, 86 deaths , distributed as follows: Gu?k?dou ( 85 cases , 59 deaths ) , Macenta (27 cases , 14 deaths ) , Kissidougou (9 cases, 5 deaths ) Dabola (3 cases , 2 deaths ) , Dinguiraye (1 case , 1 death ) , Conakry (18 cases, 5 deaths ) .

There will be no data refresh this weekend.

3 . New cures in Conakry , 2 people with Ebola .

France is strengthening its aid to Guinea with the arrival of Dr. Sylvain BAIZE , National Reference Centre for hemorrhagic fevers of the Institut Pasteur de Lyon , and a grant of 150,000 Euros ( budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs device and International Development / Crisis Centre ) to the Guinean Red Cross.

4 . The main focus of the epidemic remains concentrated in three prefectures of Guinea forest in Gu?k?dou mainly Macenta and Kissidougou .

...

http://www.ambafrance-gn.org/Ebola-point-de-situation-au-31

[Shiloh]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/angry-mob-atta...9TPDMAukHQtDMD


Angry mob attacks Ebola treatment centre in Guinea
Reuters
47 minutes ago

CONAKRY (Reuters) - An angry crowd attacked a treatment center in Guinea on Friday where staff from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) were working to contain an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, forcing it to shut down, a spokesman for the medical charity said.

"We have evacuated all our staff and closed the treatment center," Sam Taylor told Reuters, adding that the attackers in Macenta had accused MSF of bringing the disease to the southeastern town...

[Treyfish]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014

Medical Staff Scanning For Ebola At Guinea?s Airport ? NBCNews.com

by RapidNews ? April 5, 2014
French medical teams were deployed to the Republic of Guinea?s international airport Saturday to minimize the global spread of the Ebola virus, which is ravaging parts of Africa.
Teams from the Pasteur Institute and non-government medical organizations were in place to survey boarding at Gbessia International Airport, located in the capital of Conakry. The staff began checking passengers for symptoms of the virus, including severe bruising, fever, under-eye circles, throat irritation and vomiting.
Gbessia International offers eight flight destinations to countries including France, Mauritania, Morocco, Gambia and Senegal. France continues to lend health assistance, medical equipment and financial aid to its former colonies in Africa, including Guinea.
<small>Youssouf Bah / AP</small>.....http://www.rapidnews.us/medical-staf...28RapidNews%29

[Treyfish]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014

Canada advises against non-essential travel to Guinea GUINEA - AVOID NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL

<dl class="dl-horizontal"><dt>Last Updated Date:</dt><dd><time>April 2, 2014 09:35</time> ET</dd><dt>Still Valid Date:</dt><dd><time>April 5, 2014 19:17</time> ET</dd></dl> Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada advises against non-essential travel to Guinea. The current security situation remains volatile due to the political, social and economic tensions in the country. Clashes between young demonstrators and law enforcement authorities have been frequent, especially in Conakry, where incidents of violent crimes are on the rise. If you are in Guinea despite this warning, exercise extreme caution.http://travel.gc.ca/destinations/guinea


Updated: April 02, 2014
Canada Travel Health Notice

The Ministry of Health of Guinea is currently reporting a rapidly evolving outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever. Cases have been reported in forested areas in Guinea in the districts of Dabola, Djingaraye, Gu?k?dou, Macenta, Kissidougou, and Conakry. Additional cases are expected.
Confirmed cases in the neighbouring countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone had travelled to Guinea before becoming ill.
The Ministries of Health of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners to implement measures to control the outbreak and prevent further spread. The WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone in relation to this outbreak....
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/n...eng.php?id=125

[Treyfish]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014

The soldiers involved in the fight against haemorrhagic fever Labe
Sat April 5, 2014 , 8:35 p.m.
Posted By Alhaidy The Sow A , News, Health 0918


"For the love of men and given the spread of viral hemorrhagic fever that we found it useful to organize such awareness sessions , the Regional Director of Health has kindly agreed to come up with a team to raise awareness of our men in the context of prevention , "said the commander of the second military region of Labe , Colonel Ibrahima Kalil Cond? at the end of the meeting.

After the religious , the team of the Regional Director of Health Labe has long maintained that Saturday morning with the military camp of El Hadj Oumar Tall on all aspects of hemorrhagic fever. Particularly on preventive measures . At the request of the great silent , Dr. Bah Oudy and its sequel animated this important meeting to exchange, sharing and awareness in the local military camp Labe 14 kilometers from the urban center .

For the speaker , the army is a layer should not be overlooked in this fight. Dr. Ibrahima Sow says: " In fact, why we do these sensitization is because as a healthcare professional, we know that the weapon against this deadly virus is communication is changing behavior is compliance with preventive measures. So the army is an extremely important layer , so we found it necessary to come to communicate, share with them. Thus, we expect them to respect the strict measures of prevention, " he said.
Then , the public health expert and employee of United Nations Fund for Population estimated that conveyed men dressed message has been understood. "We have long traded with them. They asked for clarification and we responded . Now we we expect that these measures are respected , because if these measures are met, there is no reason that we have the disease. We believe that the message has been seized because you see how they react , how they participated in asking relevant questions , "adds Dr. Ibrahima Sow.

On behalf of the members who participated in the meeting, the commander Samba Tenin Diallo promised they would all get involved to respect these preventive measures . " Insha'Allah , we promise to apply what has been included in this session awareness to preserve us from this epidemic. We also take steps to protect our children and all members of our different families. You know, we understood that we should not panic if we can hardly escape the disease. We will take all precautions to strictly follow their recommendations. Thus, it is understood through this meeting that the disease like other diseases , " he says .

In any case, we hope that this kind of initiatives we will go to the end of the plague of modern times with its attendant misery that strikes terror into our beautiful country.http://guineenews.org/2014/04/les-mi...agique-a-labe/

[Treyfish]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014

Ebola precautionary measures in France , general mobilization in West Africa - 1


The French medical teams have been deployed at the airport in Conakry Guinea " to minimize " the risk of arrival on French soil Ebola virus appeared in West Africa , said Saturday lMarisol Touraine , while ensuring it was just precautionary measures . "Teams of the Pasteur Institute , doctors of non-governmental organizations that are there to monitor how boardings take place procedures that are considered most effective against the risk of a virus," Does she said during a visit to the emergency medical center in terminal 2Fde Roissy- Charles -de- Gaulle. "The best way to fight against this virus is to prevent its spread ," stressed the Minister of Social Affaies , yet repeating that there was "no patient with Ebola on French territory today. "

137 cases and 86 deaths in Guinea

On site , more and more countries of West Africa are also mobilized against an epidemic of haemorrhagic fever Ebola part which has already been 86 deaths in Guinea . The 86 deaths in Guinea are part of a comprehensive review of 137 cases reported since January , mostly in the prefectures of Guinea forest (south and southeast) , according to the latest report of the Guinean authorities . 45 of these cases were confirmed positive for Ebola , a highly contagious and often fatal virus against which there is no vaccine or treatment. Thursday evening , the Guinean government has , however, reported healing in two cases of Ebola isolation Conakry (photo) ...

A shelved often misunderstood in some communities where social obligations and traditional rituals are important. A Macenta ( southeast) , residents opposed to the isolation of one of them attacked a site to Doctors Without Borders (MSF ), very active in the field epidemic .

Concern also ruled Friday in Bamako after the announcement Thursday of three suspects - the first in Mali , segregated and whose samples were sent to the United States for analysis. Friday morning , they were better , assured the Malian Minister of Health, Ousmane Kon? . Mali has recommended " unnecessary travel to epidemic areas ."...
DRC will send four of its experts Guinea epidemiological surveillance to assist in the fight , said the Congolese Minister of Health , Felix Kabange Numbi Friday in Kinshasa.
It will also " raise the threshold monitoring " at the 98 entry points of the country and the hospital , and controls aim especially travelers from West Africa , has he said. Several state , including neighboring Guinea, deployed health teams at their borders and conduct awareness campaigns and prevention...http://www.legeneraliste.fr/actualit...-louest_239641

[Treyfish]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014

UNICEF GUINEA-JAPAN: Emergency assistance against Ebola

04/04/2014 10:54 p.m. by www.guineeconakry.info
The Government of Japan has made available to UNICEF Americans 523.602 dollars as emergency funds to support the Government of Guinea to support the response to the epidemic of Ebola. This donation will be used to purchase equipment and supplies to assist in the prevention and response to the outbreak.
At the request of the Guinean Government and UNICEF, the Government of Japan has decided to grant this gift because of the excellent relations between Japan and Guinea, and because of the urgent humanitarian needs.

This contribution will be a long-term contribution to the protection of children and families against Ebola and other epidemics affecting the country.UNICEF will use the funds to purchase equipment already almost exhausted by the emergency response to Ebola, namely soap, chlorine, protection kits, sprayers, megaphones, calcium hypochlorite and kits for diarrhea.

UNICEF, which supports sustainable development, purchases wherever possible, locally produced supplies, including soap and chlorine produced by private companies. http://www.guineeconakry.info/articl...-contre-ebola/

[Treyfish]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014

Exclusive: two patients cured Ebola CHU Donka , according to Director
April 3 , 2014

The Director of Donka University Hospital (CHU) , Haja Fatou Camara two Sikh Ebola patients are cured in the isolation center which is fully borne by M?decins Sans Fronti?res ( MSF) , which she operates night and day management of inpatients in particular , of suspected cases and confirmed cases.

"I am pleased to announce that with the effort of staff Guinean health partners and particularly M?decins Sans Fronti?res who are in isolation Donka Hospital where two cured patients were released center. This healing is a victory in battle. MSF is also responsible for managing the bodies of deceased patients . For a patient who dies as a result of the epidemic hemorrhagic is not transported to the great morgue , " she has said.

For his part, the Head of Mission of doctors without borders , Corine said to be very happy to have saved 2 patients healed, we can really cheer , we also hope that others will follow although we know that this disease is very very serious that the mortality rate is too high, I think we can rejoice in this healing. These people were able to resist after our treatment we do in all patients and they have survived.

According to her, we put this isolation center at Donka , where we take care of patients and said to be very honor of the visit of the Guinean government led by the prime minister head of government, Mohamed Said Fofana who thanked the technicians and all team members M?decins Sans Fronti?res for their contribution , said that patients were able to get out of this disease, it is a joy for Guinea that the government shares with everyone.

Mohamed Said wished good luck to other infected people recover their health while encouraging and thank Guinean doctors to pursue social work.http://aminata.com/exclusif-deux-mal...la-directrice/

[Treyfish]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014


Riots against MSF Macenta : the details of the Minister of Trade Marck Yombouno

Sun April 6, 2014 , 2:53 Posted By Sekou Sanoh

At the meeting of the party RPG Arc -en-ciel this Saturday , April 5 at its national headquarters in Hamdallaye , the Minister of Trade Macenta native gave some information to activists and party following the riots last Friday, April 4 between agents of the NGO M?decins Sans Fronti?res (MSF) in Macenta has there been on site.



First, Marck Yombouno noted that despite efforts by the government to contain the epidemic that some engage in statements , he said , misleading to disturb the peace in the community. "I speak as a citizen of these communities are largely affected by this disease. You see on TV that the rule is being supplied as efforts and its partners. But nevertheless , there are critics who vote for misinformation , " he has said.



Returning to riots Macenta , he accuses some compatriots in bad faith. " You've followed everything that happened yesterday ( Friday, April 4 , ed) Macenta . There was a reaction against the technical teams that came to eradicate the disease . The information circulated that it is not to fight the disease . But rather it is to eliminate or prevent such another as to apply the principles of Islam , " he has said.



Always cases of violence Macenta , the Minister explained Yombouno misinformation conveyed he said by critics . "They have developed unfounded theories saying that when you die that you put in a bag and that it is contrary to religion. So what is this misinformation they called the people to come out , " he was informed .



He continued: "If we hunt those who came to heal us and help us this means that we want the elimination of the population. Because there will be no laboratory to discern that simple fever, which has simple diarrhea and other suffering from Ebola hemorrhagic fever . Once someone has diarrhea, it is brought directly into the group of those who are sick Ebola which will facilitate the contamination which in reality should not be , "said he deplored before concluding that they are working to not only win this misinformation field Forest .http://guineenews.org/2014/04/emeute...arck-yombouno/

[Treyfish]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014

Conakry airport : camera and heat guns to detect suspected cases of hemorrhagic fever
Sun April 6, 2014 , 2:37 Posted By Tokpana

The government and its partners are installing the International Gbessia (Conakry) airport health devices to help detect any suspicious temperatures found on site Guineenews.org .


It is a thermal imaging camera and heat guns given by the Air France airline.

The installation of these devices has mobilized Saturday at Conakry airport several government ministers , the authorities of the airport and the heads of the national department responsible for the management of the outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever .

" The thermal imaging camera allows the passage of all passengers to provide information on its temperature. This is sort of a trigger prevention . This is a device being introduced in airports of our neighboring countries," said Ministry of Health , Colonel Lamah .

On heat guns , Dr Sakoba Keita , the gentleman Anti Ebola Guinea indicated that it is devices that temperatures remotely. " At the airport, there will be a medical record that each passenger must fill out. If there is a rise in temperature above 38 degrees, the person will be put in a room alert . A team early intervention will visit . if it happens to have an epidemiological link with Ebola , the team of emergency department of infectious diseases lead . a levy will be done, and if positive , it will be isolated in the isolated Donka camp , " he has said.http://guineenews.org/2014/04/aeropo...-hemorragique/

[Treyfish]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014

Ebola breaks out on a scale never seen before


ByKelly CobiellaCBS NewsApril 5, 2014, 9:52 PM
Nearly 40 years after first striking fear with a painful, grotesque set of symptoms, the Ebola virus has now killed at least 88 people in the West African countries of Guinea and Liberia.

And the worry is: It could get a lot worse.
It is a terrifying virus, highly infectious, quick to kill, with no vaccine and no cure. Doctors in Guinea are dealing with the most aggressive strain. Only one out of ten victims survives.

Michel Van Herp, an epidemiologist for the aid group, Doctors Without Borders, said that they were facing an epidemic on an unprecedented scale -- not in numbers of victims, but because the cases are so spread out in Guinea and across its borders. The only way to stop Ebola is to find and isolate everyone who has come into contact with it. The virus, which causes vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding and eventually organ failure, spreads through contact with body fluids. Doctors Without Borders is setting up quarantine clinics, but they're battling against a suspicious and scared public.


<figure class="image pull-left image-small">
<figcaption></figcaption></figure> People are so afraid, one man said, they've stopped shaking hands. An Air France flight from Guinea to Paris was quarantined on Friday after a passenger was sick in the bathroom. No one was infected with Ebola. The 1995 movie Outbreak showed an Ebola-like virus spreading through a fictional California town, while the real virus killed off nearly an entire village in the Democratic Republic of Congo.


"You have a lot of people who have recovered from civil war and are living in war-ravaged areas with very poor infrastructures," said Laurie Garrett, a senior fellow for global health with the Council on Foreign Relations. "Well as soon as word goes out of quarantine, you have people start trying to escape and get away from the clutches of authorities."
Guinea is trying to cope with the threat by banning bushmeat from bats, monkeys and apes, a possible source of Ebola, and educating the public on how to stay alive.

VIDEO
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ebola-br...r-seen-before/

[Treyfish]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014

<time datetime="2014-04-05" pubdate=""> Posted: April 5, 2014 </time>
Ebola Virus: Passengers Screened At Guinea Airport, Fears Of Spread Beyond Africa

As the Ebola virus spreads through West Africa, with cases now hitting three countries in addition to Guinea where the Ebola outbreak is centered, health authorities now fear that the virus could spread beyond African shores ? and they are taking steps to make sure that doesn?t happen.
Guinea was a colony of France until 1958 and the French still provide medical, health and other aid to the country, and to other African countries that were once French territory. This week, French medical teams have taken up posts at Gbessia International Airport, the only such international airport in the Guinea, in the country?s capital of Conakry.
A swarming and largely poverty-stricken city of 2 million, Conakry has seen 16 Ebloa cases, even though it is located some 185 miles from the remote, forested area in the southeast where the Ebola virus first appeared in Guinea, and where the majority of cases are concentrated.
The French medical screeners at the airport in Conakry, from which flights depart to France as well as to other African countries, are checking travelers for fever and asking them to fill out forms listing any symptoms or health conditions they may have been experiencing.
Any traveler suspected of carrying the Ebola virus will be immediately quartantined.
?The aim is to prevent the spread of the diseas....

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1202097/ebo...CvLxFCxvA1P.99

[Giuseppe]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 143 suspected/confirmed cases, 86 deaths, as of April 4, 2014

[Source: World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, full page: (LINK).]


Ebola virus disease, West Africa (Situation as of 5 April 2014)

5 April 2014


As at 4 April 2014, the Ministry of Health of Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 143 clinically compatible cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), of which 54 are laboratory confirmed by PCR.

The total number includes 86 deaths (CFR 60%).

New cases have been reported from Conakry, Guekedou and Macenta; 23 patients are currently in isolation units.

The date of onset of the most recent laboratory confirmed case is 3 April.

The current number of clinical and confirmed cases and deaths by place of report is:

1. Conakry (18 cases, including 5 deaths),
2. Guekedou (85 cases/59 deaths),
3. Macenta (27 cases/14 deaths),
4. Kissidougou (9 cases/5 deaths), and
5. Dabola and Djingaraye combined (4 cases/3 deaths).

Sixteen of the 18 clinical cases in Conakry have been laboratory confirmed for EVD.

There has been no increase in the number of affected health care workers (HCW) from the 14 reported previously, including 8 deaths; 11 of the affected HCWs are laboratory confirmed cases.

Sixteen of the 86 deaths overall are laboratory confirmed, 65 are classified as probable cases and 5 as suspected cases.

Case investigation and contact tracing are continuing, with 623 contacts requiring medical follow-up; this includes 74 new contacts identified on 3 April while 49 have been released from observation as they have remained well after the maximum incubation period for EVD of 21 days following the last exposure to a case.

Laboratory support for the investigation is being provided by Institut Pasteur Dakar, Senegal, and the mobile laboratory in Guekedou.

Reference laboratory functions have been provided by Institut Pasteur Lyon, France, the Bernhard-Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine Hamburg, Germany, and the Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI) laboratory in Lyon, France.

WHO, in collaboration with technical partners in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) has deployed field laboratory support, and experts in anthropology, epidemiology, logistics, clinical case management and infection prevention and control and outbreak coordination to support the response in Guinea.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) of Liberia has reported 18 suspected and 2 confirmed cases of EBV, including 7 deaths, since 24 March (CFR 31%); 7 patients are currently in an isolation unit while 2 suspected cases have been discharged.

Four new clinically compatible cases were reported on 4 April.
One of the suspected cases is in a health care worker.

Both of the laboratory confirmed cases, sisters from Lofa County, have died.

The suspected cases include a hunter treated at a hospital in Tapita, Nimba County, who died shortly after presenting to the health facility and a 3 year old boy with a clinically compatible illness who had travelled from Guinea.

The deceased hunter gave no history of contact with known cases in Liberia or Guinea and his exposure is being investigated to exclude transmission from an animal source (bush meat).

The laboratory results for both of these suspected cases are pending.

The MOHSW has placed 46 contacts under medical observation, including those of the second confirmed case who travelled from Foyah, Lofa Country, to Monrovia, Montserrado Country, and then to Firestone in Margibi County.

A total of 21 clinical samples have been sent to Conakry, Guinea, for laboratory testing. Counties of concern for EVD in Liberia include Lofa, Bong, Nimba, Margibi and Montserrado.

In response, Liberia has been scaling up activities to prevent the further spread of EVD. The National Task Force is conducting daily coordination meetings with response partners.

WHO continues to provide technical expertise to the MOHSW, including public communications, providing a high level briefing on EVD prevention and control to the joint session of both houses of parliament and mobilising experts in epidemiology and infection prevention and control.

The WHO Country Office in Liberia is working closely with the MOHSW to carry out needs assessments in areas such as procurement and the supply chain for critical materials and equipment need in the response to the outbreak.

WHO is also working with the health information systems team at the MOHSW to further develop templates for case-based data collection and to track technical assistance.

Additional deployments of regional experts, and partners in GOARN, are planned to support coordination activities, infection prevention and control, risk communications and social mobilisation.

At the request of the MOHSW and WHO, the Metabiota Laboratory in Kenema, Sierra Leone, will install Real-Time Zaire ebolavirus-specific PCR, a pan-filo PCR, Lassa virus PCR, yellow fever and Marburg virus PCRs among other assays. This technology is being transferred from its laboratory in Kenema, Sierra Leone. Metabiota will also provide training to laboratory staff in Liberia.

Medical supplies and equipment have been provided by WHO, UNHCR, MSF, Save the Children and other partners, including personal protective equipment for health care facilities.

Seven isolation units have been established in 5 counties.

M?decins Sans Fronti?res (MSF) is conducting training for health care workers in the affected counties on case management, including on setting up isolation facilities.

An additional 60 HCWs have been trained in Margibi County. Community education and social mobilisation activities have been strongly supported by the media and telecommunications sectors in Liberia.

Local government officials, community and religious leaders and traditional healers have been approached to support the MOHSW in prevention and control activities; however, additional resources are needed to expand surveillance and health promotion and social mobilisation activities to schools, religious gatherings, market places and work places. Plans are also underway to mobilise the public through house-to-house visits.

The Ministry of Health of Mali has notified WHO of 4 patients suspected to have a viral haemorrhagic fever who presented for health care in Sibiribougou, Koulikoro Region of Mali.

Two of the suspected cases had travelled from Guinea.

The patients were placed in isolation pending epidemiological investigations and laboratory testing. Contact tracing is underway.

Clinical samples have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, United States, for testing.

Epidemiological surveillance is being enhanced on the ground and Rapid Response Teams are being mobilised to identify and treat suspected cases should others present.

An isolation unit has been prepared in Bamako and units are also being installed in other locations. Information hotlines are being made available to the public.

There has been no change in the situation in Sierra Leone following the deaths of 2 probable cases of EVD in one family who died in Guinea and their bodies repatriated to Sierra Leone.

The office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is coordinating all operations involving suspected cases of Ebola as well as the follow-up investigations.

Enhanced surveillance and public education activities are continuing. Senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) have visited border crossings between Sierra Leone and Guinea to sensitise border authorities about current prevention and response plans and public health medical officers are visiting border communities to support social mobilisation activities.

Metabiota Laboratory in Kenema working under the MOHS and with the WHO Country Office in Sierra Leone, has established a full suite of ebolavirus-specific assays and differential diagnostics for other important viral haemorrhagic fevers that are locally endemic. The full range of assays is described in the section of this report for Metabiota activities in Liberia.

As this is a rapidly changing situation, the number of reported cases and deaths, contacts under medical observation and the number of laboratory results are subject to daily changes due to consolidation of case, contact and laboratory data, enhanced surveillance and contact tracing activities and ongoing laboratory investigations.

WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone or Mali based on the current information available for this event.


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