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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : September 12, 2014 7:02 PM IST
Cuba has decided to provide 165 health professionals to combat the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced Friday. The group, which includes physicians, nurses, epidemiologists, specialists in infection control, intensive care specialists and social mobilisation officers, will be concentrated in Sierra Leone.
Cuban Health Minister Roberto Morales Orjeda held a meeting with WHO Director-General Margaret Chan to coordinate the process of sending the health workers. 'If we are going to go to war with Ebola, we need the resources to fight. I am extremely grateful for the generosity of the Cuban government and these health professionals for doing their part to help us contain the worst Ebola outbreak ever known. This will make a significant difference in Sierra Leone,' Chan said.
'Cuba is world famous for its ability to train outstanding doctors and nurses and for its generosity in helping fellow countries on the route to progress,' she added. The Cuban medical workers, who already have professional experience in Africa, will be sent to Sierra Leone in October and will remain there for six months. Orjeda said that the health brigade would consist of 62 doctors and 103 nurses, all of whom have 15 years of experience.
They have also worked in other countries at the time of natural and epidemiological disasters, he added. The health minister explained that Cuba already has 23 health workers in Sierra Leone, which was why he decided to concentrate the aid there. Cuba also has another contingent of 16 health professionals in Guinea, one of the countries most affected by the Ebola outbreak.
Here are some early symptoms of Ebola Virus
Headache: It is the most common symptom of Ebola infection after fever, present in almost 96 percent of the cases. Nausea and headache along with fever present a typical case of common cold and flu. At this stage, the symptoms can be confused with other common infections.
Stomach pain: A few viral particles invade the liver and starts destroying the hepatocytes. New virions start damaging the intestinal cells causing abdominal pain.
Drop in blood pressure: The cytokines and histamines released by the immune cells, soon after the entry of the virus in the body, increases the permeability of the cells lining the blood vessels. This causes leakage of water from the blood into the surrounding tissues and a sudden drop in blood pressure. Read more about Ebola virus signs and symptoms you need to watch out for!
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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