Ebola Virus Confirmed In Democratic Republic Of Congo: MSF Sending In Specialists
At the end of April, cases of an unknown illness started to be reported in the region of Mweka, a town of 9,000 people in West Kasai. Over the last two weeks, more and more suspected cases were reported in the areas of Mweka, Kampungu, Luebo and Kananga, the provincial capital.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 362 suspected cases have now been reported and 166 people have died - a mortality rate of approximately 45%. Children and the elderly seem to be most affected by the disease. Patients present with a high fever, headaches, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in a few cases external bleeding. Within two or three days, they can die from dehydration.
MSF is currently working in Kampungu, the most affected area, where 12 patients are currently hospitalised. Three of them are in a severe condition. No vaccine or treatment exists for Ebola fever, so MSF isolates patients to prevent the spread of the disease, treats the symptoms and reduces the suffering of patients. While waiting for the results of tests, they are treated with antibiotics and hydrated. It is not clear whether all reported deaths are due to Ebola - Shigella dysentery is also believed to be present.
Additional MSF doctors, nurses, logisticians, water-and-sanitation specialists, an epidemiologist and an expert in Ebola fever will arrive in West Kasai over the next couple of days. MSF is also sending emergency equipment into the region today, including highly protective clothing for the teams. Since Ebola is highly contagious, protective clothing can only be used once and then must be carefully destroyed. Water tanks, chlorine and medical supplies are also being sent in.
MSF has built considerable experience in dealing with outbreaks of haemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola and Marburg, and has previously worked in Angola (2005), Gabon (1997 and 2002), Uganda (2001), Congo-Brazzaville (2003/2004) and South Sudan (2004). An outbreak of Ebola in Kikwit, DRC, killed 244 people in 1995.
For more information visit this link.
http://www.msf.org
Virusul Ebola confirmate în Republica Democraticã Congo: MSF Trimiterea În Specialiºtii - Ebola Virus Confirmed In Democratic Republic Of Congo: MSF Sending In Specialists - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate