Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Published : October 20, 2014 11:08 AM IST
The World Health Organization drafted a document listing several factors that contributed to the failure of effective response to the explosive Ebola outbreak. Factors like lack of reliable information, incompetency in staff members and bureaucracy are a few among them. Earlier in April, when Doctors Without Borders warned that Ebola outbreak was out of control, there was a dispute among the charity and a WHO spokesman who insisted the outbreak is not serious and is contained. (Read: Ebola facts frequently asked questions (FAQ))
In an official statement released on Saturday, WHO revealed that it will not explain details about the document unless it is drafted completely and checked for facts. 'WHO will not do any interviews regarding for maintaining transparency and accountability.' In a statement, the WHO mentioned that it would be conducting a comprehensive review and analysis about the global response to Ebola once the outbreak is contained. Until then, the document would be circulated internally and won't be released for public viewing. (Read: Ebola Facts: Top 7 myths busted)
Early symptoms of Ebola
Fever: Increase in body temperature is the first defence mechanism that the body uses to kill any foreign particle invading the body. When Ebola infects the body, it causes a release of various compounds like cytokines and histamines that pass on the signals of increasing body temperature. In fact, Ebola virus disease is also called the Ebola haemorrhagic fever, where the temperature can go above 38.6 C or 101.5 F.
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.
Image Source: Getty Images
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