The recent occurrences of Ebola cases outside Africa has led to fears of a global epidemic. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that the number of infections could rise to up to 1.4 million people by early next year without a massive global intervention to contain the virus. Tom Frieden, CDC's director, warned:
We have to work now so that this is not the world’s next AIDS
The first instance of Ebola being contracted outside Africa has recently been reported. Despite the necessary protective procedures being followed, a nurse in Spain contracted the Ebola virus from a Spanish priest repatriated from Africa with the disease. A hospital in Madrid is treating her and is keeping several people who have been in close contact with her in isolation. Seeing the condition of the nurse steadily deteriorate, many nurses at the hospital are refusing to work for fear of contracting the virus themselves.
This week the first death from Ebola on US soil was reported; a Liberian national who had travelled to America. Also, a British-American photojournalist who had recently contracted Ebola in Liberia is currently receiving an experimental anti-viral drug in a hospital in Nebraska.
In Prague, a Czech man has developed Ebola symptoms after a trip to Liberia and is being treated in an isolation unit.
These cases have arisen despite exit screenings for the signs of Ebola at airports in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. These three nations continue to receive international assistance in strengthening exit screening.
In addition, the US and UK governments are introducing enhanced Ebola screening of people entering the US and UK from countries affected by Ebola.
The recent Ebola outbreak in Nigeria was successfully contained using a system of exit and entry screening, indicating the effectiveness of such a strategy. However, hospitals across the UK were told yesterday to have specialist protective clothing on standby in case they are required to treat a person with Ebola and drills are to be conducted this weekend to ensure that medical staff are well prepared to deal with infected patients.
International support to manage the virus at source also continues. After emotional pleas from West African leaders to help stop their people dying, 100 additional US marines landed in Liberia yesterday.
In the current Ebola outbreak, the largest to date, nearly 4,000 people have died since it began in March. Containing the outbreak has become a top priority for governments around the world; Ebola is no longer just an issue in West Africa.
Sources
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