Ebola outbreak in Guinea

Guinea is suffering from an outbreak of the Ebola virus, which started in the southeastern region of the country and now reached the capitol Conakry. The Guinea Ministry of Health reported a total of 127 probable and suspect cases, 35 out of which were confirmed by laboratory analysis. Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) say that 83 of these suspect cases died and that the disease also spread in the neighboring Liberia, with 8 suspect cases, 5 out of which were lethal and 2 laboratory-confirmed. Genetic analysis revealed that this virus is closely related to that reported in 2009 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has said that the outbreak is unprecedented and difficult to control, but the WHO stated that this is not an epidemic and is geographically limited. This is due to the high lethality of Ebola virus, which prevents a widespread contagion. This is the reason why Ebola outbreaks are terrible but may be restrained, thus preventing them from becoming pandemic.

Ebola is a rare and deadly hemorrhagic fever caused by a virus, which spreads by direct contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person, but also by contact with contaminated objects or infected animals. First symptoms are fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness. In a second phase, the disease causes diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Some patients may also display skin rash, red eyes, and internal and external bleeding. In severe cases, it may lead to organ failure and unstoppable bleeding.