Liberia - Ebola: 10 212 confirmed cases, 4 573 deaths (WHO, April 22, 2015)

[Pathfinder]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 196 suspect/confirmed cases, 116 deaths as of July 17, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 196 suspect/confirmed cases, 116 deaths as of July 17, 2014 (WHO)

Red Cross condemns Ebola vaccine claims

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 00:00 By Winston W. Parley

The Liberian Red Cross says it is not providing vaccination to any Ebola patient, and terms as evil, the act of people wanting to use the institution?s identity to carry out clandestine their deed. A Red Cross? statement dated July 17, 2014 says it has been speculated in some quarters that Red Cross? staffs are in communities vaccinating suspected or confirmed patients with the deadly Ebola virus.

Though the Red Cross did not identify those it says are carrying on the speculation, the clarity was however made about a day after government alarmed to the public last week that unknown inviduals posing as health workers were issuing fake Ebola vaccine in communities.
...
?The Liberian Red Cross says it is NOT providing vaccination to any Ebola patient as being speculated in the public,? the statement read. Recently, the Liberian Red Cross Secretary General, Fayiah Tamba, said the institution is not vaccinating anyone against Ebola and repeated emphssis that the virus has no vaccine.

Mr. Tamba said he continues to receive calls from friends and partners on the speculation, but clarified that those involved are not Red Cross Staff. He demands the arrest and prosecution of anyone caught in the process, professing to be a Red Cross staff. Mr. Tamba said the rumor of Ebola vaccination by the Red Cross is false and misleading.
...

http://www.thenewdawnliberia.com/in...la-vaccine-claims&catid=25:politics&Itemid=59

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 196 suspect/confirmed cases, 116 deaths as of July 17, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 196 suspect/confirmed cases, 116 deaths as of July 17, 2014 (WHO)

UNICEF-Liberia Ebola Virus Disease: SitRep #39, 21 July 2014

Report
from UN Children's Fund
Published on 21 Jul 2014
Summary

?Since 17 July, 28 new suspected, probable and confirmed Ebola cases and eight (8) new suspected, probable and confirmed Ebola deaths have been recorded in Liberia. One of the new confirmed cases was from Nimba County, which is now classified as a response county.

?As of 20 July, the cumulative number of suspected, probable and confirmed Ebola cases reported during Outbreak #21 in Liberia stood at 216; and the total number of suspected, probable and confirmed Ebola deaths stood at 116.2

?Confirmed Ebola cases have now been reported in Bomi, Bong, Lofa, Margibi, Montserrado and Nimba Counties, which constitute the Ebola response counties.

?Eleven (11) additional health workers in Bong County have been added to the list of suspected and probable cases.

?The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) and partners will establish an Ebola treatment unit in Bong County, where 19 suspected, probable and confirmed Ebola cases have been reported to date.
...
http://reliefweb.int/report/liberia/unicef-liberia-ebola-virus-disease-sitrep-39-21-july-2014

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 196 suspect/confirmed cases, 116 deaths as of July 17, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 196 suspect/confirmed cases, 116 deaths as of July 17, 2014 (WHO)

The World Health Organization?s Regional Director Dr Sambo calls for accelerated efforts to control Ebola

Dr Sambo addressing the National Task Force on Ebola of Liberia

Monrovia, 22 July 2014 - The World Health Organization?s Regional Director for Africa Dr Luis Sambo began official visits to the three West African Countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. On the first leg of the visit, the Regional Director arrived in Liberia on Monday 21 July 2014 to review current outbreak response and challenges, and explore the best ways to rapidly contain the EVD outbreak in West Africa.

The Regional Director held official meetings with the President of Liberia H.E. Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the Minister of Health Dr Gwenigale and other high ranking Government officials. The President and the Regional Director also participated in the Ebola national coordination meeting at the Ministry of Health.

Her Excellency Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf President of Liberia, called all sectors of government and country to get involved in the response to contain Ebola. ?There?s no time for denial. This is serious and real?, she said.

Addressing the meeting, Dr Sambo stressed the need to step up implementation of key outbreak containment strategies, including community engagement and involvement, effective contact tracing, cross-border collaboration and effective coordination.He said: ?The situation is quite serious and it should be addressed as an emergency?.

The Regional Director underscored the need to strengthen social mobilization activities to raise awareness on Ebola within the communities, as well as to enhance the protection of health workers, and to work with cross border collaboration. He reiterated WHO?s commitment to continue to work with the Government of Liberia and partners to mobilize adequate resources to address the Ebola epidemic.

In Liberia, the Minister of Health Dr Walter Gwenigale pointed out the challenges they are facing in the response. The need for more support to contain the outbreak in the country, especially in counties that have not yet been affected was highlighted. The WHO Regional Director commended the health authorities for their efforts to control the outbreak.

?I believe it is possible to stop the transmission and reduce the number of cases, but we still have a lot to do?, he added.

The Regional Director later held discussions with the international and local non-governmental organizations, UN Agencies and other stakeholders to enhance collaboration and effective coordination. He called upon all the partners to be fully involved in the EVD outbreak response and announced that a Sub-Regional Control Center in Guinea has been set up as a coordinating platform to consolidate and harmonize the technical support to West African countries by all major partners.

The Regional Director and the UN Special Representative to the Secretary General, Karen Landgren, also held a meeting to analyze the situation and the response to the outbreak.

The first wave of Ebola epidemic in Liberia occurred on 30 March 2014. The country is currently facing a second wave of cases since May 2014.

WHO continues to provide support to the Ministry of Health and Social welfare in Liberia in the areas of coordination, treatment of patients; surveillance and advocacy for human logistical and financial, and resources.

http://www.afro.who.int/en/liberia/...for-accelerated-efforts-to-control-ebola.html

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 224 suspect/confirmed cases, 127 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 224 suspect/confirmed cases, 127 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

Ebola virus disease, West Africa ? update 23 July 2014
...
Disease update

New cases and deaths attributable to EVD continue to be reported by the Ministries of Health in the three West African countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Between 18 ? 20 July 2014, 45 new cases of EVD, including 28 new deaths, were reported from the three countries as follows: Guinea, 5 new cases and 4 deaths; Liberia, 28 new cases with 11 deaths; and Sierra Leone 12 new cases and 13 deaths. These numbers include laboratory-confirmed, probable, and suspect cases and deaths of EVD.

As of 20 July 2014, the cumulative number of cases attributed to EVD in the three countries stands at 1 093, including 660 deaths. The distribution and classification of the cases are as follows: Guinea, 415 cases (304 confirmed, 98 probable, and 13 suspected) and 314 deaths (204 confirmed, 98 probable, and 12 suspected); Liberia, 224 cases (77 confirmed, 68 probable, and 79 suspected) and 127 deaths (56 confirmed, 44 probable, and 27 suspected); and Sierra Leone, 454 cases (405 confirmed, 35 probable, and 14 suspected) and 219 deaths (182 confirmed, 32 probable, and 5 suspected).
...

http://www.afro.who.int/en/clusters...a-virus-disease-west-africa-23-july-2014.html

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 224 suspect/confirmed cases, 127 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 224 suspect/confirmed cases, 127 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

Ebola kills more women

Friday, 25 July 2014 02:40 By Winston W. Parley
...
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Lofa County Representative Mariamu Fofana, told a live- broadcast press briefing hosted by the Health Ministry at the Information Ministry that about 75 percent of Ebola deaths in Liberia are women.
...
The World Health Organization or WHO Country Representative to Liberia, Dr. Nestor Ndayimirije, says there are 249 cases with 129 deaths in Liberia, and appealed to religious and traditional people not to keep Ebola patients at prayer or traditional centers to avoid it spreading.

The WHO envoy advised nurses not to touch patients if they are not protected, as he re-emphasized that there is no cure or vaccine for Ebola. But he however advised that there is chance for survival if people seek treatment immediately upon being infected. Dr. Ndayirije said there are cases where people who sought early treatment had survived; though he maintains there is no cure.

Liberia?s Health Minister Dr. Walter Gwenigale, told the public on Thursday that the Ebola virus is now beyond the ministry alone, and needs the support of community residents as well. He said people express fears that health workers will harm them, and in some quarters, they stone health workers? vehicles.

http://www.thenewdawnliberia.com/~t...la-kills-more-women&catid=46:health&Itemid=60

----------------------------------------------------------------------
JFK to shut down! Ebola kills chief medical doctor

Friday, 25 July 2014 02:33 Edwin G. Genoway, Jr

Authorities at the state run John F. Kennedy (JFK) Memorial Hospital here are said to be considering plans to shut down all activities at the hospital for 21-days due to the increasing number of reported Ebola cases, this paper have learnt.

JFK is one of the biggest state run referral hospitals here and has ushered in a number of Ebola suspected cases, many of whom have died.

The news come amidst unconfirmed reports of the death of one of the hospital's senior medical practitioner, Dr, Samuel Brisbane, a former Chief Medical Doctor at the Firestone Rubber Plantation run Hospital from the deadly Ebola virus here on Thursday July 24, 2014.

The Assistant Minister of Health for Preventive Services Mr. Tolbert Nyenswah said he could not confirm the reported death of Dr. Brisbane on Thursday because he had not received the information at the time.

Sources say authorities at the JFK are said to be taking the measure to observe the current Ebola cases already at hospital within that 21 day period.
...
http://www.thenewdawnliberia.com/~t...hief-medical-doctor&catid=46:health&Itemid=60

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 415 clinical cases including 314 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 415 clinical cases including 314 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

Ebola virus disease, West Africa ? update 25 July 2014 E-mail Print
Epidemiology and surveillance

The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to monitor the evolution of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. The Ebola epidemic trend remains precarious, with community and health-facility transmissions of infection still taking place.

Between 21 ? 23 July 2014, 96 new cases and 7 deaths were reported from Liberia and Sierra Leone. In Guinea, 12 new cases and 5 deaths were reported during the same period. These include suspect, probable, and laboratory-confirmed cases.

The surge in the number of new EVD cases in Guinea after weeks of low viral activity demonstrates that undetected chains of transmission existed in the community. This phenomenon is retrogressive to the control of the EVD outbreak; and calls for stepping up outbreak containment measures, especially effective contact tracing.

In addition, the Ministry of Health of Nigeria has reported the first probable case of EVD on 23 July 2014. The case is a Liberian national who recently travelled to Nigeria where he presented in hospital with symptoms of EVD. The patient travelled by air and arrived in Lagos, Nigeria via Lom?, Togo. He was symptomatic while traveling, fell ill, was admitted to a private hospital, and died. On 22 July, a sample was taken and preliminary laboratory analysis was conducted in the virology laboratory of Lagos University Teaching Hospital and tested positive for Ebola virus. The sample from this case is being referred to the WHO Collaborating Centre at the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal, for confirmatory and other advance testing. The national authority in Nigeria is working closely with WHO and partners to ensure that this incident case is contained at the source.

Health sector response

In an effort to accelerate the response to the current EVD outbreak in West Africa, the Director General of WHO held discussions with the donor community and development partners on 24 July 2014 in Geneva. Countries and agencies again pledged their assistance and support to the outbreak and efforts are underway to secure additional human and financial resources.

The Regional Director for the Africa Region, Dr Luis Sambo, continued his fact-finding mission in the three affected countries. After visiting Liberia earlier in the week (21 ? 22 July), he visited Sierra Leone (22 ? 23 July) and Guinea (23 ? 25 July). The goal of his visits was to assess first-hand the EVD outbreak, review the current response and challenges, and explore the best ways to rapidly contain the outbreak in West Africa. Official meetings with Presidents, Ministers of Health and other senior government officials, international and local NGOs, UN agencies, and other stakeholders were held.

During the mission, the Regional Director underscored the seriousness of the outbreak while reiterating that it can be contained using known infection prevention and control measures. He observed that the outbreak is beyond each national health sector alone and urged the governments of the affected countries to mobilize and involve all sectors, including civil society and communities, in the response. He requested the respective governments to re-deploy adequate and appropriate national staff and other national resources to the field level and promote behavioural change while respecting cultural practices.

He repeated the mandate to countries to enhance cross-border collaboration and strengthen effective coordination and the mandate of WHO to coordinate the response to public health emergencies. On behalf of WHO, the Regional Director pledged WHO?s continued commitment to the affected countries and reaffirmed its role in engaging and mobilizing the international community in support of national efforts to control the EVD outbreak.

On 24 July 2014, the Prime Minister of Guinea and the Regional Director officially inaugurated the WHO Sub-regional Outbreak Coordination Centre (SEOCC) in Conakry. The Centre will consolidate and harmonize the technical support at local, country, regional, and international level. WHO has asked its partners to deploy representatives from their respective organizations to sit in the hub and contribute to the activities of the coordination centre. The establishment of the SEOCC was a follow-up action from the emergency Ministerial Meeting held in Accra, Ghana, earlier in the month.

Efforts are currently ongoing to scale up and strengthen all aspects of the response in the three countries, including contact tracking, public information and community mobilization, case management and infection prevention and control, and coordination.

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

Disease update

New cases and deaths attributable to EVD continue to be reported by the Ministries of Health in the three West African countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Between 21 and 23 July 2014, 108 new cases of EVD, including 12 deaths, were reported from the three countries as follows: Guinea, 12 new cases and 5 deaths; Liberia, 25 new cases with 2 deaths; and Sierra Leone, 71 new cases and 5 death. These numbers include laboratory-confirmed, probable, and suspect cases and deaths of EVD.

As of 23 July 2014, the cumulative number of cases attributed to EVD in the three countries stands at 1 201, including 672 deaths. The distribution and classification of the cases are as follows: Guinea, 427 cases (311 confirmed, 99 probable, and 17 suspected) and 319 deaths (208 confirmed, 99 probable, and 12 suspected); Liberia, 249 cases (84 confirmed, 84 probable, and 81 suspected) and 129 deaths (60 confirmed, 50 probable, and 19 suspected); and Sierra Leone, 525 cases (419 confirmed, 56 probable, and 50 suspected) and 224 deaths (188 confirmed, 33 probable, and 3 suspected).

Confirmed, probable, and suspect cases and deaths from Ebola virus disease in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, as of 23 July 2014

(chart snipped)


The total number of cases is subject to change due to reclassification, retrospective investigation, consolidation of cases and laboratory data, and enhanced surveillance. Data reported in the Disease Outbreak News are based on best available information reported by Ministries of Health.

http://www.afro.who.int/en/clusters...a-virus-disease-west-africa-25-july-2014.html

 

[Donners]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 415 clinical cases including 314 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 415 clinical cases including 314 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

UNICEF Liberia Ebola Virus Disease Situation Report #41, 25 July 2014

· Between 21 and 23 July, 36 additional suspected, probable and confirmed Ebola cases and four (4) additional deaths of suspected, probable and confirmed Ebola cases had been reported in Liberia. The additional cases include four (4) health workers.

· As of 23:00 on 23 July, the cumulative number of suspected, probable and confirmed Ebola cases reported during Ebola Outbreak #2 in Liberia stood at 258; and the total number of suspected, probable and confirmed Ebola deaths stood at 130.

· To date, confirmed Ebola cases have been reported in Bomi, Bong, Lofa, Margibi, Montserrado and Nimba Counties, which constitute the Ebola response counties.

· The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) has decided to reorganize the national approach to the Ebola epidemic so as to improve coordination and the overall response. Under this new plan, an open briefing for all partners will be held on Fridays at 9 AM, with more high-level and technical meetings to take place during the week.

· The MoHSW is responding to recent security incidents linked to the Ebola outbreak by working to enhance engagement by Liberian security agencies with the goal of preventing or managing such incidents.

· UNICEF completed filming for the forthcoming Ebola awareness video, which will feature the President of Liberia and other prominent citizens delivering key messages on the disease. The agency has also produced 120 CDs carrying the revised Ebola messages, and is now facilitating their distribution to radio stations nationwide.

· UNICEF’s revised budget for the Ebola outbreak response is US$ 1.59 million for the period between March and September 2014. The funding gap is US$ 960,000.

http://reliefweb.int/report/liberia...irus-disease-situation-report-41-25-july-2014

 

[Donners]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 415 clinical cases including 314 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 415 clinical cases including 314 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

AMERICAN DOCTOR IN AFRICA TESTS POSITIVE FOR EBOLA

BOONE, N.C. (AP) — An aid organization says that an American doctor working with Ebola patients in Liberia has tested positive for the deadly virus.

North Carolina-based Samaritan's Purse issued a news release Saturday saying that Dr. Kent Brantly tested positive for the disease and was being treated at a hospital in Monrovia, Liberia. Brantly had been serving as medical director for the aid organization's case management center in the city.

Samaritan's Purse spokeswoman Melissa Strickland says that Brantly's wife and children had been living with him in Africa, but they are currently in the U.S.

Strickland says that Brantly began serving in Africa as part of a post-residency program before the Ebola outbreak began. The deadly disease has already killed 672 in several countries since the outbreak began earlier this year.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/american-doctor-africa-tests-positive-ebola

 

[Donners]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 415 clinical cases including 314 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 415 clinical cases including 314 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

Ebola Claims Life of JFK Chief Medical Doctor, Samuel Brisbane

Written by FPA Staff Report Published: 26 July 2014

Dr. Samuel Brisbane, the Chief Medical Doctor at Liberia’s leading hospital, the John F. Kennedy Medical Center has become the latest casualty of the deadly Ebola virus.


Dr. Brisbane, also a former Chief Medical Doctor at the Firestone Rubber Plantation Hospital had been quarantined along with a Physician Assistant and Doctor Nelson Korkor, the lead doctor at Phebe who was brought down to Monrovia three days ago after contracting the virus.

Hospital sources say, Dr. Brisbane selected to treat himself at home initially in a bid not to spread the virus to others but was brought to the ELWA hospital where the Samaritan Group has been treating serious cases, when the illness worsened, until his death, Saturday.

...

http://www.frontpageafricaonline.co...e-of-jfk-chief-medical-doctor-samuel-brisbane

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 415 clinical cases including 314 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Guinea - Ebola: 415 clinical cases including 314 deaths as of July 20, 2014 (WHO)

AMERICAN DOCTOR IN AFRICA TESTS POSITIVE FOR EBOLA

BOONE, N.C. (AP) ? An aid organization says that an American doctor working with Ebola patients in Liberia has tested positive for the deadly virus...

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/american-doctor-africa-tests-positive-ebola

Samaritan?s Purse Doctor Serving in Liberia, West Africa, Tests Positive for Ebola

July 26, 2014

Dr. Kent Brantly, Medical Director for the Samaritan?s Purse Ebola Consolidated Case Management Center in Monrovia, Liberia, has tested positive for the Ebola virus. He is currently undergoing treatment at a Samaritan?s Purse isolation center at ELWA Hospital...

Dr. Brantly is married with two children. Samaritan?s Purse is committed to doing everything possible to help Dr. Brantly during this time of crisis. We ask everyone to please pray for him and his family.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/arti...liberia-west-africa-tests-positive-for-ebola/

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH & SOCIAL WELFARE
P. O. BOX 10 ? 9009
1000 MONROVIA 10, LIBERIA
WEST AFRICA
Press Release
July 22, 2014
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has reaffirmed that the Ebola outbreak in the country is a National
Emergency, and has called on all Liberians and residents within the borders of Liberia, to join the
government and partners in the fight against the deadly virus. Speaking on Tuesday July 22nd
during the
Ebola National Task Force Meeting at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Congo Town, President
Sirleaf described the Ebola outbreak as very serious and requires urgent attention and the involvement of
all including government officials, religious and traditional leaders, and the general public to take the
message out to their various communities in order to contain any further spread of the disease. The
Liberian Chief Executive said she will personally take the lead in the drive to eradicate the Ebola Virus
Disease (EVD). She, however, called on the public to strictly adhere to rules and instructions from the
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and partners about the virus and burials for Ebola-related deaths.
The President has also mandated the Ministry of Internal Affairs to engage County Superintendents,
Mayors, Commissioners, and chiefs to ?go out and fight Ebola? by holding town hall meetings to sensitize
their respective communities. The Liberian Chief Executive used the occasion to appreciate the sacrifices
being made by health workers in risking their lives to save the lives of others in the wake of the Ebola
outbreak. She sympathized with health workers who have been infected by the virus and their respective
families.
Meanwhile, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo, and the Special Representative of
the Secretary-General for Liberia, Madam Karin Landgren, have renewed their institutions? commitment in
fighting the Ebola Virus in Liberia. Dr. Sambo urged the government of Liberia to step up contact tracing ,
inter-sectoral approach, cross-border collaboration and coordination at all levels, and bring together key
players to galvanize support for the outbreak. For her part, Madam Landgren called for community
engagements to tackle the largest outbreak ever on the continent.
Earlier, Health and Social Welfare Minister Dr. Walter Gwenigale praised the efforts of partners in battling
the disease while Liberia?s Chief Medical officer, Dr. Bernice Dahn, presented an update on the status of
the Ebola outbreak in the country which has claimed 137 Lives. As of July 21, six new cases were reported,
bringing the cumulative cases (confirmed, probable, and suspected) to 230, including 82 confirmed cases.
Seven new deaths were reported, bringing the total deaths to 137. Liberia?s Ebola case fatality rate is 69.7
percent. This indicates that the situation is still volatile and requires community, religious and traditional
leaders? support.
Ebola spreads through physical contact with a victim of the disease. The virus also spreads
through: sweat, saliva, blood, by touching the vomit or urine of somebody who is sick with Ebola.
Avoid touching dead bodies or body fluids or materials of infected Ebola persons. Avoid direct
physical contact, such as handshakes, kissing and direct contact with body fluids of infected or
dead persons or animals. Make use of the hotlines where the public can call to get Ebola-related
information. The numbers are 1333, 4455, 0886229641, 0886397381, and 0776547437.
Bernice T. Dahn, MD, MPH
Deputy Minister/Chief Medical Officer-RL
http://www.mohsw.gov.lr/documents/press_release.pdf

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

CBS/AP/July 27, 2014, 10:30 AM

American doctor in West Africa contracts deadly Ebola virus
...
Brantly, 33, has been working with Samaritan's Purse in Liberia since October 2013 as part of the charity's post-residency program for doctors, said the group's spokeswoman Melissa Strickland. The organization's website says he had worked as a family practice physician in Fort Worth, Texas.
...
Brantly was quoted in a posting on the organization's website earlier this year about efforts to maintain an isolation ward for patients.

"The hospital is taking great effort to be prepared," Brantly said. "In past Ebola outbreaks, many of the casualties have been healthcare workers who contracted the disease through their work caring for infected individuals."

Strickland says that Brantly's wife and children had been living with him in Africa, but they are currently in the U.S.
...
Meanwhile, One of Liberia's most high-profile doctors has died of Ebola, a government official said Sunday...

Dr. Samuel Brisbane is the first Liberian doctor to die in an outbreak...
...
After falling ill with Ebola, he was taken to a treatment center on the outskirts of the capital, where he died, said Tolbert Nyenswah, an assistant health minister.
...
He added that another doctor who had been working in Liberia's central Bong County was also being treated for Ebola at the same center where Brisbane died.

The situation "is getting more and more scary," Nyenswah said.
...
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/american-doctor-in-west-africa-contracts-deadly-ebola-virus/

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Source: http://www.wltx.com/story/news/heal...eportedly-infected-with-ebola-virus/13241663/

Two Americans Reportedly Infected with Ebola Virus
CBS/AP 2:46 p.m. EDT July 27, 2014

BOONE, N.C. - Two U.S. citizens are now reported to be infected with the deadly and incurable Ebola virus in West Africa.

The first American reported to have contracted the disease is an American doctor working with Ebola patients in Liberia, who tested positive for the deadly virus, North Carolina-based Samaritan's Purse issued said in a news release on Saturday.

The second person who reportedly tested positive for Ebola is a woman employed by an aid organization in Liberia who is a married mother of two.

In a statement on Sunday, Samaritan's Purse said: "Nancy Writebol is employed by SIM in Liberia and was helping the joint Samaritan's Purse/SIM team that is treating Ebola patients at the Case Management Center in Monrovia."

Writebol's age and hometown have not been released at this time...

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

American Doctor With Ebola Described as 'Meticulous,' 'Strong Individual'

Jul 27, 2014, 2:03 PM ET
By GILLIAN MOHNEY via World News
...
Although Brantly specialized in general family care, after the Ebola outbreak reached Liberia he was given the job of overseeing care for infected patients as director for the organization's Ebola Consolidated Case Management Center, due to his detailed knowledge of protocol to safeguard health workers.

"He knew the CDC and WHO protocols for safety inside and out," Samaritan's Purse spokeswoman Melissa Strickland said. "He was very meticulous in following that and making sure the entire staff was following that. That was one of the reasons he was given that responsibility."
...
Before he was infected, Strickland confirmed that Brantly sometimes spent three hours treating patients in the clinic. It's a feat few doctors can manage since the medical gear they have to wear ends up becoming almost unbearably hot.
...
Brantly was described as having a fever and being in pain, but still able to sit up in his isolated room.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/american-doctor-ebola-meticulous-strong-individual/story?id=24732342

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Liberia closes borders - Dr. Brisbane confirmed dead

Monday, 28 July 2014 00:00 J. Karyounean Browne

In the wake of the rapid death toll from the Ebola virus in the country, the Government of Liberia has announced the closure of all borders except major entry points, including the Roberts International Airport in Margibi County, James Spriggs Payne Airport in Monrovia, Foya Crossing in Lofa County, Bo Waterside Crossing in Grand Cape Mount, and the Ganta Crossing in Nimba County.

The country shares borders with neighboring Guinea, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf announced the border closure Sunday, 27 July in Monrovia as health authorities here confirmed the death of a senior Liberian doctor, Samuel Brisbane, who contracted the Ebola Virus Disease from the Du Side Hospital in Harbel, Firestone, Margibi County.
...
Additional measures to be imposed the President said are: Government vehicles will be commandeered, as appropriate, to provide needed logistics support to the health delivery system; all Government facilities and public places are to install and provide public access for washing of hands and other sanitization services; and media sensitization programs to be formulated by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, among others.

The Liberian leader has accordingly set up a national taskforce chaired by her to work with the country?s health team to coordinate responses on the outbreak. She also said based on report from a government technical team, communities that are seriously affected will be quarantined and travels in and out of such communities restricted, while support will be provided to those directly affected by the quarantine restrictions.
...

http://www.thenewdawnliberia.com/in...ne-confirmed-dead&catid=25:politics&Itemid=59

 

[Emily]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/two-americans-stricken-deadly-ebola-virus-liberia-n166281

First published July 27th 2014, 6:48 pm
Maggie Fox
...

One bright spot ? early treatment seems to help patients survive better, even though there?s no specific treatment for Ebola. In some outbreaks, 90 percent of patients have died, but the death rate in this outbreak is closer to 60 percent, and Strickland says it?s possibly because patients are being identified earlier and getting supportive care, such as saline solution, to prevent dehydration.

Brantly was well enough to use a computer from his hospital bed, Strickland said, although both Brantly and Writebol have been suffering from high fevers that come and go...

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

American Physicians Fight Fear & Disease in West Africa

Monday, July 28, 2014
...
One of the latest victims to test positive for the Ebola virus was an American doctor, Dr. Kent Brantly, who was infected with the disease while treating patients in Liberia?he is receiving treatment, but his condition is deteriorating. News of Dr. Brantley's condition comes just days after one of Liberia's most high-profile doctors died from Ebola.
...
Ken Isaacs, Vice President of Programs at Samaritan's Purse, the international relief organization where Dr. Brantly works, weighs in on the escalating crisis in West Africa.

"I talked with a team this morning; his condition is deteriorating," says Isaacs. "We are gravely worried for him. He is in a very serious condition, and he needs to be evacuated out and we are not able to do that. We are not able to give him the adequate medical attention that he needs in Liberia. It is a blow to the organization, and of course to he and his family."

Isaacs says that the organization is currently still classifying Dr. Brantly as stable, but he says his condition is deteriorating as the disease continues to run through him.
...
"Ebola is probably one of the most contagious and deadly diseases in the world," says Isaacs. "Extraordinary precautions are taken every step of the way. Protocols of barrier protection, disinfection, scrubbing down, and dressing in and dressing out, and still accidents happen some way or another. All of the healthcare workers that are treating Ebola patients face these risks."

... On Friday, eight out of the 12 new Ebola patients that came to the ELWA Hospital in Liberia's capital city were government healthcare workers.
...
http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/two-americans-contract-ebola-virus/

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Originally published: 2014-07-28 12:34:29
Last modified: 2014-07-28 18:19:46

UPDATE Samaritan's Purse: Doctor in Liberia contracts Ebola, second U.S. case also confirmed

by Tom Mayer
...
"His condition is very serious, and our team continues to provide intensive supportive care for him," Strickland said. "His condition is worse today (Monday) than he was yesterday."

Strickland said that officials have not yet determined how or when the physician was infected.

"Our team follows CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and WHO (World Health Organization) protocols rigorously," Strickland said, "and we strongly believe there was no breach of those protocols. We are currently investigating in cooperation with CDC and WHO."
...
Writebol is a missionary with SIM, an international missionary agency, who has been working with Samaritan's Purse's Ebola medical teams in Liberia, Strickland said. She has two children.

"Nancy was also confirmed positive for Ebola over the weekend and is currently undergoing treatment," Strickland said.

It is also not known at this time how Writebol was infected, Strickland said.
...
http://www2.wataugademocrat.com/New...Ebola-second-US-case-also-confirmed-id-015614

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Doctor who contracted Ebola in grave condition

By EMILY SCHMALL
Associated Press

Published: Monday, Jul. 28, 2014 - 5:34 pm
Last Modified: Monday, Jul. 28, 2014 - 6:54 pm
...
"I'm praying fervently that God will help me survive this disease," Brantly said in an email Monday to Mcray. He also asked that prayers be extended for Nancy Writebol, an American co-worker who also has fallen ill.

Brantly "went into Ebola exhausted" from treating Ebola patients, Mcray said after speaking with him Monday. His prognosis is grave and efforts to evacuate him to Europe for treatment have been thwarted because of concerns expressed by countries he would have to fly over en route to any European destination, Mcray said.
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Liberia's health ministry is investigating how Brantly contracted the virus.

"We're trying to figure out what went wrong because he was always very careful," said Tolbert Nyenswah, an assistant health minister in Monrovia.

Full text:
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/07/28/6588744/doctor-who-contracted-ebola-in.html

 

[Emily]

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

Re: Liberia - Ebola: 249 suspect/confirmed cases, 129 deaths as of July 23, 2014 (WHO)

http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2014/07/28/weary-samaritans-team-front-lines-ebola-crises/13292195/

Weary Samaritan?s team on front lines in Ebola crises
Dale Neal 5:34 p.m. EDT July 28, 2014

...
Writebol serves as a hygienist who decontaminated those entering and leaving the Ebola care area at the hospital...