Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Published : October 3, 2014 10:03 AM IST
Ebola outbreak in West Africa shows no signs of slowing down, as more and more people are getting infected. According to the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) the number of infected people has crossed 7,000 in West Africa, while the number of deaths has reached 3,338 based on information received by health ministries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. But the number could be underestimated.
Unlike Guinea, the epidemic seems to continue with an upward trend in Sierra Leone and most probably also in Liberia. By contrast, the situation in Guinea appears to be more stable,' UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters at a press briefing, adding that though it must be emphasised that in the context of an Ebola outbreak, a stable pattern of transmission is still of a very grave concern and could change quickly.
The WHO also noted that out of these infected individuals, 375 are health care workers (67 in Guinea, 184 in Liberia, 11 in Nigeria, and 113 in Sierra Leone), and 211 of them have died due to Ebola.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the US Tuesday announced the first case of Ebola has been confirmed in the country. The Ebola patient was identified as Thomas Eric Duncan, who travelled from Liberia to Dallas, Texas, to visit relatives there last month but fell ill Sep 24. He was later confirmed to have been infected with Ebola at a Dallas hospital and was listed in serious but stable condition.
What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe clinical condition that has threatened the entire world. It is caused by a virus of Filoviridae family. Although 5 types of Ebola virus have been identified, only four have been found to cause the disease in humans. The virus spreads easily through close contact with bodily fluids (like semen, saliva, blood and sweat), skin or objects (like needles or garments) of an infected person. (Read: Ebola virus causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention)
This disease that is highly infectious kills more than 90% of the individuals being infected with the virus (which means that the mortality rate of the Ebola disease is 90%). Hence only 10% of the individuals being infected with the virus survive i.e., the survival rate of the Ebola infection is only 10%. Read more about What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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