Latest Ebola News: Fear of Ebola virus strikes the sports world

By: Editorial Team | | Published: October 10, 2014 6:20 pm

With the African Nations Cup qualifiers starting from November 10th, many African players associated with top European soccer clubs are heading home. On the other hand, the deadly Ebola virus that has claimed more than 3,400 lives in West Africa, is extending its reach into the European continent. As fear of players coming in contact with the Ebola virus strikes in, Rayo Vallecano of Spanish team shall ask Guinean striker Lassane Bangoura to leave his national team’s training camp and return to Madrid. Also Read - Ganesh Chaturthi 2020: 4 reasons an eco-friendly Ganesha is good for you

Also Read - 7 reasons why the #BeefBan is good

Bangoura did so and said he would accept any sanctions imposed by the Guinean football association. ‘I do not want problems with Rayo Vallecano, which pays me every month,’ the player told reporters. ‘When they said that my teammates were concerned, I made the decision to come and talk to them to tell them not to be afraid.’ African soccer’s governing body, Confederation of African Football (CAF), decided to hold the first leg of the Ghana-Guinea qualifier in Casablanca, Morocco, but has not yet decided what to do about the second leg, set for Guinea, a country hard hit by the epidemic. (Read: What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?) Also Read - Ebola death toll rises to 55 in DR Congo

The CAF faces the same dilemma with the second leg of Cameroon-Sierra Leone, as Sierra Leone is another country with a large number of Ebola deaths. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have three players with Spanish clubs: Sevilla’s Stephane M’bia, Osasuna’s Raoul Loe and Barcelona’s Fabrice Ondoa. Congolese Cedric Mabwati, on loan from Real Betis to Osasuna, joined his national team to face South Africa after undergoing medical checkups. (Read: What is the Ebola incubation period?)

Some European newspapers, including Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, have taken up the issue of a possible Ebola outbreak in Europe, especially after Spain recorded the first case of contagion outside Africa. Apart from football, the Burkina Faso government cited concerns about Ebola when it decided to cancel an Oct 23-Nov 2 cycling event. During August’s Youth Olympics in Nanking, China, authorities banned five athletes from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria for health reasons, which led all three countries to withdraw from the competition.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) with answers about the deadly Ebola disease –

1. How is the Ebola virus disease caused?

The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a contagious disease caused by infection with one of the four strains of the Ebola virus. The Ebola virus belongs to the family of Filoviridae and the viral strains with potential for infection in humans are Zaire, Bundibugyo, Tai Forest and Sudan virus. (Read: Ebola virus causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention)

2. How does it spread?

The Ebola virus spreads through direct contact with the body fluids (semen, sweat, saliva and blood), infected objects (needles) and close skin contact with an infected person. It can also be transmitted through close contact with infected animals (handling the meat) and consumption of uncooked meat. Read more about Ebola facts frequently asked questions (FAQ)

With inputs from IANS

Photo source: Getty images

Published : October 10, 2014 6:20 pm

Read Disclaimer