Guinea declares Ebola epidemic after 7 confirmed cases and three deaths: All you need to know

The head of the National Health Security Agency, Sakoba Keita, told local media on Saturday that one of the latest Ebola victims in Guinea was a nurse who fell down in late January and was buried on February 1. Keita also told local media that a patient had escaped but had been found and hospitalized in the capital, Conkry.

Guinea has declared an Ebola epidemic after three people died in the southeast of the country. Four others have also reportedly fallen ill from the disease. The head of Guinea’s health agency told reporters on Sunday that the country was in the midst of an “epidemic situation” of Ebola with seven confirmed cases in the West African nation, including three deaths.

“Very early this morning, Conakry’s laboratory confirmed the presence of the Ebola virus,” Sakoba Keita said after an emergency meeting in the capital. Health Minister Remy Lamah had previously spoken of four deaths. It was not immediately clear why the toll had been reduced.

The cases marked the first known resurgence of the virus in West Africa since a 2013-2016 epidemic that began in Guinea and left more than 11,300 dead across the region.

According to reports, seven people fell ill with diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding after attending a funeral in Goueke, near the border with Liberia. The country’s Health Ministry said on Sunday that infected patients have been isolated in treatment centers.

AFP reported that the head of the National Health Security Agency, Sakoba Keita, told local media on Saturday that one of the latest victims in Guinea was a nurse who fell in late January and was buried on February 1. Keita also told local media that a patient had escaped but had been found and hospitalized in the capital, Conkry.

The WHO African Region tweeted the announcement: “New #Ebola outbreak declared in #GuineaFlag of Guinea by health authorities today. 3 cases have been confirmed in the rural community of Gouéké in N’Zerekore prefecture. This is the first time the disease has been reported since the last outbreak ended in 2016. “

In another tweet, they added that WHO staff are already on the ground supporting surveillance, infection prevention and community engagement. According to the tweet, WHO is also supporting Guinea in acquiring the Ebola vaccine, which has proven critical in controlling outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted that Guinea has many years of experience in the fight against Ebola and that the government is taking action. He added that WHO has activated all levels to coordinate support for Guinea, including access to Ebola vaccines and treatments.

The Ebola virus reaches humans from infected animals such as chimpanzees, fruit bats, and forest antelopes. One of the natural reservoirs of the Ebola virus is bushmeat, which are non-domesticated forest animals that are hunted for consumption. the the disease spreads among humans by direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, or organs. It can also spread indirectly through contact with a polluted environment.

Following the announcement, Liberian President George Weah has put health authorities on greater alert. According to the report, experts have said that containment is key to fighting the disease. The virus initially causes sudden fever, severe weakness, muscle pain, and a sore throat. Patients tend to die from dehydration and multiple organ failure.

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