Ebola virus Archives - Capital Berg

A Sierra Leone cemetery full of children as a result of the worst Ebola epidemic in decades

January 17, 2015 By Cliff Jenkins Scott

King Tom cemetery in Sierra Leone named after the long forgotten ruler clearly represents what the deadly Ebola epidemic did to this land.

The cemetery is hidden behind flaking grey walls in the suburbs of Freetown, the capital of the West African country of Sierra Leone.

For years the cemetery has been fighting a losing battle for space with a neighboring municipal refuse dump, from which piles of debris and garbage overflow onto the gravestones. But now, the tides have turned, as the cemetery overflows with the Ebola affected causalities in one of Sierra Leone’s worst epidemic outbreaks in decades.

There is special section for children in the cemetery and it has seen the rapid rise in size as a result of the Ebola outbreak.

Fiona Mclysaght who is the Country Director for Concern Worldwide says, “There are a staggering number of children being buried here on a weekly basis. Between the first and the fifth of January 156 children under the age of five were buried here in King Tom.”

WHO blames governments in Ebola crisis and seeks more influence for future

January 12, 2015 By Marlene R. Litten

The World Health Organization has stated that the Governments did not take up serious roles during the onslaught of the Ebola crisis which resulted in the disease’s severity. WHO further wants more power and influence in order to tackle future health emergencies, according to documents published by the agency.

WHO has been on the receiving end of severe criticism because of its slow response to the Ebola epidemic, which has killed more than 8,371 people, as of now, out of the 21,000 cases reported in the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

WHO had promised to release a full report of the Ebola crisis when the disease came under control, but has not done so as of now.

But according to documents submitted to WHO’s 34 nation Executive Board, the agency criticized the governments that had put International Health Regulations that cover public health risks and disease outbreaks at risk by closing borders and discriminating against travelers from Ebola-affected countries.

The report also said that some of the states also didn’t have the minimum standards in place in primary areas such as surveillance, preparedness and risk communication.

The agency also stated in another report that the agency should be restructured and given more power in order to tackle future health emergencies in an effective and better way.

Cuban Doctor heals successfully against Ebola in Geneva

December 6, 2014 By Cliff Jenkins Scott

A Cuban doctor makes a full recovery against the deadly Ebola virus at a local hospital in Geneva, and is already enroute to meet up with his family members back home on Saturday.

Dr. Felix Baez was amongst the 256 Cuban doctors and nurses who participated in relief activities against the Ebola outburst in West Africa earlier this year. The outbreak which has killed more than 6,000 people till date is one of the worst recorded.

At the request of the World Health Organization WHO, Baez was hospitalized in Geneva, whose head office is also situated in the city.

Dr. Baez contracted the disease in the worst hit country Sierra Leone. 106 out of a total of 138 health workers who caught the disease in Sierra Leone, have died, resulting in a much higher fatality rate than among health workers in the neighboring Guinea and Liberia.

At the hospital in Geneva, Baez received two drugs to fight the disease and spokesman said he was feeling much better after two days of treatment. Amongst the two drugs, one was the Canadian experimental ZMab and the other was the untested Favipiravir made by Japan’s Fujifilm. ZMab is a precursor to ZMapp, which has been used to treat several U.S. patients as well. While Favipiravir is included by WHO in its list of potential Ebola treatments.

Baez was the first case of Ebola in Switzerland and also Cuba’s first citizen to contract the deadly disease. He was treated in complete isolation at the hospital and at no point in time was there any risk of transmission to the masses.

Strict Health Measures Adopted after the Confirmation of Ebola Virus in Dallas to Prevent People

October 4, 2014 By Carol Harper

Texas Health Presbyterian has confirmed that Thomas Eric Duncan was infected from Ebola virus after which the neighbors and all those who were in contact with Duncan were ordered to stay isolated within their homes until Thursday after the confirmation for Ebola on 30^th of October. On Friday, the city spokesperson Sana Sayed confirmed that the family has been moved to a private residence in Dallas. She further said that:

The city and county has been working very hard to put this family in a safe location, and it has been tough, because no one wanted them,”

Moreover she continued that:

“And so someone was kind enough to offer up a private residence, that is gated, that is separated from any neighborhood and apartment complex, so that they can have their privacy and be away from anyone who has concerns.”

A city official also reported to ABC News that the donor of the gated residence to the infected family wanted to remain anonymous and it was not easy for the officials to find anyone who would let the family to stay at their home due to health concerns.

The new location of the family has been kept confidential except the mere hint that is Dallas. They will stay there under continuous observation of health officials.

The family was escorted out of the apartment by the Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, because they were without any protective gear in making any efforts to show to public that they are healthy and there is nothing to be concerned about.

As per the statement from Jenkins “late Friday morning, the initial cleanup was expected to take about three hours. But after crews got into the apartment Friday, officials now say the complete cleanup will take days.”

Those living nearby got cautious when they saw Cleaning Guys suited up in bio-hazard gear and black tarps for privacy and had a tough time in rolling in special bins to destroy the family’s sheets and towels. All people were in a big aw for what was happening.

“Initially, they were told that there was one mattress that they needed to deal with, and now we are finding out that there may have been three mattresses that this man had slept on,” Sayed said.

All of those mattresses, along with sheets, towels, and other items that could be infected with the Ebola virus have been confiscated and will be incinerated.

They were also told that Duncan came from Liberia on Sept 20 and after 4 days he got the feeling of been ill which has taken him to the situation he is in.

However, Lakey said it was difficult to locate a decontamination company to handle the disposal and cleanup at the unit where Duncan stayed before he was diagnosed.

Furthermore the health officials reported that the number of people at risk fell down from 100 to 50 among whom tens are at higher risk and they are being monitored more closely. Even at schools they had deployed the scanners .It was also reported that those scanners would be sponsored by Wello Inc. They will help nurses to screen students for fevers without touching them, eliminating the risk of spreading illness or disease. Those monitors will remain in schools for few weeks until the chances for infection subsides.

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