Latest Ebola News: EU to increase aid to West Africa to $1.27 bn to fight Ebola

By: Editorial Team | | Published: October 25, 2014 11:05 am

Use protective gear: For healthcare workers and medical staff, it is absolutely mandatory to use protective gear including gloves, special masks and a body suit to prevent exposure to the virus. Even healthy individuals living in affected West African countries should use gloves and mask to prevent spread of the disease.

The European Union (EU) will be increasing its contribution to West Africa for combating Ebola to one billion euros ($1.27 billion). West African countries are the worst affected by the deadly virus, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said Friday. Also Read - Ganesh Chaturthi 2020: 4 reasons an eco-friendly Ganesha is good for you

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‘EU will increase financial help to one billion euros to fight Ebola in West Africa,’ said Van Rompuy through his Twitter account during the summit of European Union leaders in Brussels that ends Friday. Also Read - New experimental drug can protect against all forms of Ebola

EU members have endorsed the proposal of British Prime Minister David Cameron to increase the amount of the European financial assistance to combat the Ebola virus, which so far is estimated at over 500 million euros.

EU sources told Spanish news agency Efe that, on the first day of the summit, the heads of state or government of the EU were talking about increasing their contributions to a maximum of 700 million euros.

On Friday, they signed an agreement to increase their commitment to one billion euros, almost double the original amount.

So far, the EU has allocated more than 500 million euros, including 200 million euros from the European Commission, for development, humanitarian aid and research, with the rest earmarked for the affected countries.

The sources, who did not give additional details on how these funds will be allocated among the countries, indicated that the one billion euros includes the 500 million euros previously committed.

The European Union and European Commission have already agreed to ensure adequate attention to international health workers within available resources, so that they receive the treatment they need, which may involve medical evacuation.

According to a new study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, Ebola outbreak will explode in the month of December, where the death toll is predicted to reach 90,000 in Montserrado Africa.

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. (Read: What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?)

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. (Read: Ebola virus causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention)

Stomach pain: A few viral particles invade the liver and starts destroying the hepatocytes. New virions start damaging the intestinal cells causing abdominal pain.

Photo source: Getty images

With inputs from IANS/EFE

Published : October 25, 2014 11:05 am

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