Agencies
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Agencies | Published : December 31, 2014 11:10 AM IST
Geneva, Dec 30: The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in west Africa has risen to 7,842 out of 20,081 cases recorded, the World Health Organization has said. The previous toll released on December 26 was 7,693 deaths and 19,695 cases. Almost all the deaths and cases have been recorded in three west African countries worst-hit by the outbreak: Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Those apart, six have died in Mali, one in the United States and eight in Nigeria, which was declared Ebola-free in October. Spain and Senegal, which have both been declared free of Ebola, meanwhile counted one case each, but no deaths.
Sierra Leone, which has overtaken Liberia as the country with the most infections, counted 9,409 cases and 2,732 deaths on December 27, the WHO said yesterday. On Christmas Eve, the death toll was 2,655 and there were 9,203 cases. Sierra Leone imposed a lockdown on Christmas and New Year festivities to curb the spread of the virus. Liberia, long the hardest-hit country, has seen a clear decrease in transmission over the past month.
As of December 27, the country counted 7,977 cases and 3,413 deaths, up from 7,862 cases and 3,376 deaths recorded in the previous update. In Guinea, where the outbreak started a year ago, 2,695 Ebola cases and 1,657 deaths were recorded up to December 27. The previous tally was 2,630 Ebola cases and 1,654 deaths as of December 24. Ebola, one of the deadliest viruses known to man, is spread only through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person showing symptoms such as fever or vomiting. People caring for the sick or handling the bodies of people infected Ebola are especially exposed. As of December 21 a total of 666 healthcare workers were known to have contracted the virus, and 366 of them had died, according to WHO. (Read: Ebola virus is mutating rapidly say scientists)
The World Health Organisation today said that the number of people infected by the Ebola outbreak in the three west African countries has passed 20,000, even as the death toll from the deadly-disease reached 7,842. Cumulative Ebola cases in the three west African countries - Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea - stood at 20,081, the WHO said in a statement. Despite various missions launched by the UN, after it declared the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern" in August, the disease has continued to spread and experts warn the epidemic will last a full second year. (Read: What is the Ebola incubation period?)
Meanwhile, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) today announced that the so-called "CommCare" technology has been chosen to support the Guinean Government Response Plan against Ebola in order to obtain timely and reliable information on patients as well as facilitate contact tracing. UNFPA said the innovative and time-saving application will be used to locate the contacts and to transfer, in real time, the data collected by the community workers. Nearly, 158 community workers have already been using these phones to retrieve the data collected in the field. The UNFPA office in?Guinea?has been organising training sessions for community workers and supervisors throughout the territory. (Read: How the Ebola virus spreads in humans)
Source: PTI
Photo source: Getty images
For more articles on Ebola virus, visit our Ebola virus section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.
