West Africa Archives - Capital Berg

British Militray Health Worker Returned to UK After Needle Injury

February 2, 2015 By Denise Ehrlich

A UK military healthcare worker has been moved back to England. The health worker suffered from a needle injury while treating an Ebola patient in West Africa.

A spokesman of government health agency informs that the worker has been shifted to the Royal Free Hospital for treatment. The hospital has all the equipment to evaluate and check the health workers. However, the disease has not been detected in the first test.

Mark Francois, a government minister notifies that there is no connection between the previous case and the new one. Generally, the government gives highest standard of training on the utilization of protective equipments. Hence, the chances of the emergence of the disease are extremely low

This is the second time when a UK health worker has been flown back to the country due to exposure of virus. Last week, another health worker returned to the country as she was exposed to virus.

Paul Cosford, director for health protection states that the government will provide all required support to the individuals and their families. Thus far, there is no risk to the health of general public.

The deadly disease has killed nearly 8,000 people in West Africa, Sierra Leone and Liberia. In comparison, nearly 23000 people were infected with the lethal disease.

Ebola Affected Children, Thousands of them are now Orphane

January 20, 2015 By Marlene R. Litten

A large number of children are now orphan after the outbreak of Ebola.

Marie, a woman died with Ebola left behind two children: Mercy and Harris. Mercy is nine years old, whereas Harris is 17 years old. It was a terrible sight for children when health workers took the body of their mother in front of their eyes. The death of Marie sent shivers down the spines of all the villagers as well.

Sheldon Yett, a representative of UNICEF Liberia Country talked about the victims of the deadly disease. He says that it is extremely difficult for people to believe that the lethal disease has killed their loved ones.

A large number of children are suffering from this trauma because of the death of their parents. According to the reports of BBC and New York times, Ebola has taken the parents of nearly 10,000 children.

There is no place or any kind of shelter home for these orphans. Currently, they are living under the open sky. Even people are also afraid to provide shelter to children who have been exposed to Ebola. Hence, children felt outcast as no one is ready to own them.

As per the reports of World Health Organization (WHO), the fatal disease has killed nearly 8,594 people in West Africa. In comparison, 21,614 people are infected with Ebola. Mostly cases emerged in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Young U.S Nurse Decides to Fight Against Ebola

January 17, 2015 By June Harris

Thus Far, numerous health professional of the United States are infected with the deadly Ebola disease. The relatives of these health workers prayed day and night for the lives of their loved ones.

Lindsey Hallen, a 31 year old nurse has decided to work with the sick patients of the West Africa. The lady nurse with an experience of two years merely wants to contribute in the fight against the disease. The lethal disease has killed around 8,000 people and sent hospital to nearly 21,000 people.

Most of her friends were shocked when they heard the news. They all asked the same question: why are you putting your life at risk? Will you be able to bear the difficulties and see the brutal deaths of thousands of people in Africa? She replied “because I want to”

After few days, she received a phone call from the recruiter of Partners in Health. The girl on the other side of the phone told her that they are sending her to West Africa instead of Sierra Leona. They need health workers to reconstruct the medical system of that region. However, she still has the option of Sierra Leona. Everything is completely up to her.

Since Last year, around 1,300 people applied through Partners in Health. Unfortunately, majority of the candidates refused to go when the epidemic hit the entire Africa.

Hence, the global health organization chose 360 people. The selection board explains that they want modest and humble people for this work.

US Ends Enhanced Airport Ebola Screening For Travelers From Mali

January 6, 2015 By June Harris

Voyagers from Mali will no more face enhanced screening upon landing in the United States, US authorities said on Monday, in a move reflecting the West African country’s gains over Ebola.

Beginning on Tuesday, travelers from Mali won’t need to go to the United States through five particular airports or be subjected to extra screening or checking for the infection, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Bureau of Homeland Security said in an announcement.

Authorities said the last Ebola patient in Mali tested negative on December. 5, and there are no other active cases in the nation, which has seen cases of the ailment as a consequence of the flare-up in adjacent Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Enhanced screening from passengers from those 3 countries are still in operation. Also, any individual who went from Mali and entered the United Stated before Tuesday must be screened for the infection for 21 days, the period it takes for symptoms to appear, the announcement said.

“Following isolated cases of Ebola in Mali would not automatically oblige re-institution of these measures, which are utilized just when there is a danger of prevalent transmission,” authorities said.

US authorities established extra layers of airline traveler screening in October as part of an intensified attempt to stop the spread of the infection. Despite the fact that the impact of the outburst is focused in West Africa, the September death a Liberian man who fell sick in Texas shook Americans.

Ebola Deaths toll in W. Africa reaches 8000 says WHO

January 1, 2015 By Cliff Jenkins Scott

The world health organization (who) on Wednesday said that the Ebola deaths in west Africa has reached 8000 out of total 20,206 suspected, probable and confirmed cases.

The international organization has released its new figures on Wednesday as the year that experienced worst Ebola outbreak just ended. Medical experts say that this worst outbreak that started in 2014 shall end up till the end of 2015.

WHO said in a news release that signs have emerged that shows that virus transmission have slowed down in Sierra Leone but the western part is still experiencing intense effects of the virus. Sierra Leone currently has 9,446 cases with 2,758 recorded deaths.

Decline in cases have been observed in Liberia have been observed with 8,018 cases and 3,423 recorded deaths.

Guinea has been observed with fluctuating transmission rates. Guinea has recorded 2,707 cases and 1,709 deaths.

Other nations with at least single Ebola case diagnosed were recorded to be UK, USA Nigeria, Mali, Senegal and Spain.

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.