The epidemic continues to deteriorate with many new cases identified daily in the three high transmission countries, a first lethal case reported from the USA and a first case of contamination outside of Africa occurring in Spain. Meanwhile international efforts have been stepped up significantly but there is no evidence that the outbreak is being brought under control except in a few districts.
The WHO reported on October 8th that the bed capacity to treat Ebola fever cases is 1,084 when 4,288 would be required. Thus, 76 % of the needs are covered in Guinea, 21 % in Liberia and 26 % in Sierra Leone. There are 11 laboratories operating, 2 in Guinea, 5 in Liberia and 4 in Sierra Leone. A first case had been reported in a Liberian national travelling to Dallas in the USA, who has since passed away, and there are fears that the number of contacts may be high due to initial hospital mismanagement of the case. Similar concerns are associated to the contamination of a healthcare worker in a designated hospital in Spain.
The European Union announced on September 5th 2014 the injection of 140 million euros in the fight against the epidemic. Other examples of efforts worth mentioning include the deployment of more than 100 experts (CDC), 165 medical staff (Republic of Cuba government) and 3,000 military personnel (United States Government) in the affected countries. Africa’s richest man, Mr. Dangote, donated 150 million $ to fight the spread of the Ebola epidemic.
On September 18th the Director General of the WHO, Dr. Chan, warned the UN Security Council about the catastrophic health, social and economic impacts of the crisis brought on by the Ebola epidemic in the three most affected countries.
Europ Assistance - Global Corporate Solutions (GCS) clients with either operations or travelers in West Africa have been increasingly concerned about the recommendations to be made to their staff and plans to be put in place. GCS continues to actively keep its clients up to date with the situation and has participated in the planning of protection measures.
As of October 8th 2014, and since the start of the epidemic, the World Health Organization reported for Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia:
8,011 cases, 35 % of them in the last 21 days, including 390 in healthcare workers.
3,857 deaths, including 2127 in healthcare workers
The survival rate so far has been higher than in previous epidemics at around 50 %. As of October 8th 2014, the WHO reported that the status of the more localized outbreaks was as follows:
- Nigeria - 20 cases (among which 11 healthcare workers) and 8 deaths (among which 5 healthcare workers).
- Senegal - 1 case (now healed) reported.
All contacts in both countries have now completed their follow-up and no new case was identified. However, the case confirmed on September 30th by the CDC in the USA has now died and 48 contacts are being followed.
Many of the deaths concern healthcare workers, a fact explained by both lack of protection and overexposure in part due to dedication and also to shortages of staff.
A cluster of 70 cases reported as of September 28th in the Equateur province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is definitely unrelated to the West African epidemic. 42 deaths have been reported including 8 among healthcare workers.
The USA are instituting entry controls at 5 airports, JFK in NYC, Newark, Washington-Dulles, Chicago- O’Hare and, Atlanta. Exit testing of more than 30,000 passengers in Africa has resulted in only 77 being denied entry on board, most of them showing signs of malaria and none of them cases of Ebola fever.
Please click on the following link to download the full Europ Assitance communication: Ebola Outbreak Update