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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : October 15, 2014 9:30 AM IST
Ebola is a deadly disease that seems to have taken the world by storm. But while scientists are working hard to find a cure for the infection, the WHO has release a piece of statistics that seems to have doom written all over it. According to The World Health Organisation (WHO), the Ebola epidemic in West Africa could reach 5,000 to 10,000 cases per week by the first week of December. 'Quite frankly, ladies and gentlemen, this health crisis we face is unparalleled in modern times. The gravity of the situation is difficult to get across with just a few numbers,' Xinhua quoted WHO's assistant director-general Bruce Aylward as telling a press conference in Geneva. He said the Ebola crisis, which occurred in West Africa six months ago, has now become a health sector crisis and a larger crisis of essential services in these countries. 'The disease is entrenched in the capitals, 70 percent of the people affected are definitely dying from this disease, and it is accelerating in almost all of the settings,' he added.
He said the rate of cases slowing down does not mean we return to zero cases, adding the outbreak continues to expand geographically. He predicted as much as 5,000 to 10,000 Ebola cases per week were anticipated in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone by December. However, he pointed out the WHO's goal is by 60 days to identify all chains of Ebola transmissions in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, to make sure 70 percent of burials are safe, as well as the 70 percent of cases are taken care properly within 60 days. As of Tuesday, the total number of cases attributed to Ebola virus disease in West Africa has reached 8,914, including 4,447 deaths.
Here are some Ebola virus 7 myths busted
Myth #1: Ebola is not real
Fact: Ebola is real and is caused due to a virus.
The virus is thought to have been spread from animals to man and is capable of being contagious even before any symptoms are seen. Having killed over 700 people, the Ebola virus is known to be fatal 90% of the times. This apathy was highlighted in a news report by NEWSY, where Dr Sanjay Gupta said in an interview with CNN that people in Africa have a severe lack of knowledge regarding the virus and how it spreads. They touch the bodies of people who have died due to the infection, and get infected. This then spreads to people around them. Apart from that in a startling revelation, one person interviewed in Africa said that he did not believe that Ebola was real, while eating a piece of bush meat. As the disease continues killing, it is this belief that only makes the situation worse.
Myth #2: Ebola can only spread through blood
Fact: Ebola can spread through all body fluids including blood, sweat, semen, saliva and any other discharge.
This is mainly because of the way the virus attacks the body. Apart from affecting a person s immune system, Ebola multiplies extremely fast and soon spreads throughout a person s body. It then systematically infects all systems of the human body barring the nervous system. This leads to bleeding and breakdown of all the defense mechanisms of the body. The infection becomes so severe that at a given time there can be up to 1000 viral cells in one drop of body fluid (especially blood). Read more about Ebola Facts: Top 7 myths busted
With inputs from IANS
Image source: Getty Images
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