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World
Ebola Reaches Capital of Guinea, Stirring Fears
With 13 Ebola cases in Conakry, Guinea’s densely populated capital, residents are on edge, with some carrying bottles of bleach and pharmacies selling out of hand sanitizer.In other animals
In general, outbreaks of EVD among human populations result from handling infected wild animal carcasses. In general, declines in animal populations precede outbreaks among human populations. Since 2003, such declines have been monitored through surveillance of animal populations with the aim of predicting and preventing EVD outbreaks in humans.[133] Recovered carcasses from gorillas contain multiple Ebola virus strains, which suggest multiple introductions of the virus. Bodies decompose quickly and carcasses are not infectious after three to four days. Contact between gorilla groups is rare, suggesting transmission among gorilla groups is unlikely, and that outbreaks result from transmission between viral reservoir and animal populations.[134]Outbreaks of EVD may have been responsible for an 88% decline in tracking indices of observed chimpanzee populations in 420 square kilometer Lossi Sanctuary between 2002 and 2003.[134] Transmission among chimpanzees through meat consumption constitutes a significant 5.2 (1.3–21.1 with 95% confidence) relative risk factor, while contact between individuals, such as touching dead bodies and grooming, do not.[135]
Domestic animals
Ebola virus can be transmitted to dogs and pigs.[136] While dogs may be asymptomatic, pigs tend to develop clinical disease.Recent research
In late 2012, Canadian scientists discovered that the deadliest form of the virus could be transmitted by air between species.[137] They managed to prove that the virus was transmitted from pigs to monkeys without any direct contact between them, leading to fears that airborne transmission could be contributing to the wider spread of the disease in parts of Africa. Evidence was also found that pigs might be one of the reservoir hosts for the virus; the fruit bat has long been considered as the reservoir.[137] "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Guinea_Ebola_outbreak
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Senegal’s Ministry of Interior has ordered all movements of people through the southern border with Guinea to be suspended indefinitely to prevent the spread of the disease, according to a statement published on 29 March by state agency APS.[10] Since 26 March, Mauritania closed all crossings along the Senegal River, the natural border between Mauritania and Senegal, except for the Rosso and Diama points of entry. From 1 April, Saudi Arabia stopped issuing visas for the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca to those from Guinea and Liberia. Moreover, Morocco reinforced medical surveillance at the Casablanca airport, a regional hub for flights from and to West Africa.[11][12][13]
The European Commission (EC) is giving €500,000 to help contain the spread of the virus in Guinea and its neighbouring countries. The EC has also sent a health expert to Guinea to help assess the situation and liaise with the local authorities. EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva said: "We are deeply concerned about the spread of this virulent disease and our support will help ensure immediate health assistance to those affected by it. It's vital that we act swiftly to prevent the outbreak from spreading, particularly to neighbouring countries.[14]"
Initial outbreak in Guinea
In February 2014, the first Ebola virus outbreak registered in the region occurred in Guinea. As of 2 April, the total number of suspected and confirmed cases in the Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever (EHF) outbreak has increased to 136, including 89 deaths at a case fatality rate of 65%.[3] Suspected cases were reported in Conakry (four cases), Guéckédougou (four), Macenta (one) and Dabola (one) prefectures. The most recent suspected case was admitted to hospital on 28 March.[4] The outbreak spread to Guinea's capital Conakry, a city of about two million inhabitants, and is a major concern according to Ibrahima Touré, Country Director of Plan Guinea NGO: "The poor living conditions and lack of water and sanitation in most districts of Conakry pose a serious risk that the epidemic escalates into a crisis. People do not think to wash their hands when they do not have enough water to drink."[5]Subsequent spread
Sierra Leone identified two suspected cases, both of whom died. All of the confirmed and suspected cases reported by Liberia and Sierra Leone had travelled to Guinea before the onset of illness. Investigations into these suspected cases are on-going. The Ministry of Health of Liberia has provided updated details on the suspected and confirmed cases of EHF in Liberia. As of 29 March, two of those cases have tested positive for the virus and there have been two deaths among the suspected cases.[6]Response
The national authorities of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia have activated their national emergency committees, prepared EHF response plans and carried out needs assessments.[4] The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued a statement that called for the support of the international community in the fight against the epidemic: "The Board of Mediation and Security of ECOWAS appeals to the international community to provide support in the management of the Ebola epidemic in the region."[7] On 30 March, during the 44th Summit of the heads of state and government of west Africa, ECOWAS disbursed US$250,000 to deal with the outbreak.[8] Sierra Leone has instituted a temporary measure which includes reactivation of its 'Active Surveillance Protocol' that will see all travellers into the country from either Guinea or Liberia subjected to strict screening to ascertain their state of health.[9]Senegal’s Ministry of Interior has ordered all movements of people through the southern border with Guinea to be suspended indefinitely to prevent the spread of the disease, according to a statement published on 29 March by state agency APS.[10] Since 26 March, Mauritania closed all crossings along the Senegal River, the natural border between Mauritania and Senegal, except for the Rosso and Diama points of entry. From 1 April, Saudi Arabia stopped issuing visas for the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca to those from Guinea and Liberia. Moreover, Morocco reinforced medical surveillance at the Casablanca airport, a regional hub for flights from and to West Africa.[11][12][13]
The European Commission (EC) is giving €500,000 to help contain the spread of the virus in Guinea and its neighbouring countries. The EC has also sent a health expert to Guinea to help assess the situation and liaise with the local authorities. EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva said: "We are deeply concerned about the spread of this virulent disease and our support will help ensure immediate health assistance to those affected by it. It's vital that we act swiftly to prevent the outbreak from spreading, particularly to neighbouring countries.[14]"
References
- At least 84 killed in Guinea’s Ebola epidemic (Utah People's Post, April 2, 2014)
- "1 April 2014: Guinea/Liberia – Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Outbreak". ReliefWeb. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- "Ebola outbreak in Guinea 'unprecedented' – MSF". BBC News. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- "Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever, Guinea (Situation as of 30 March 2014)". Afro.who.int. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- Diallo, Boubacar (29 March 2014). "Ebola in Guinea: the NGO Plan Guinea-feared a worsening of the epidemic ...". Africaguinee.com. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- "Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever, Liberia (Situation as of 30 March 2014)". Afro.who.int. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- "The West Africa requires the support of the international community in the fight against Ebola". abidjan.net. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- "La CEDEAO décaisse 250 000 dollars pour faire face à la fièvre Ebola" (in French). abidjan.net. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- Cham, Kemo (1 April 2014). "Sierra Leone restricts movement across borders over Ebola fears". Africa Review. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- "Ebola Death Toll in Guinea Rises to 70 as Senegal Closes Border". Bloomberg News. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- "Fièvre Ebola : contrôle sanitaire renforcé au Maroc" (in French). Nouvelobs. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- "Visas refusés aux pèlerins de Guinée et du Libéria" (in French). 20min.ch. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- Ndiaye Moctar, Pape (29 March 2014). "The uncrossable river Senegal since last Tuesday". Sud Quotidien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- "Ebola in West Africa: European Union joins effort to stop spread of disease and releases €500,000 in immediate funding". Europa.eu. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
http://reliefweb.int/report/guinea/ebola-virus-disease-west-africa-situation-2-april-2014
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- Five new cases were recorded in last 24 hours. The total number of suspected and confirmed cases in the on-going ebola outbreak in Guinea has increased to 127, including 83 deaths. 35 cases were confirmed by laboratory testing
- So far in Conakry there have been 12 cases and 4 deaths. 11 of the 12 cases were confirmed by laboratory testing.
- The case fatality rate is 65%. All age groups have been affected but most of the cases are adults aged 15-59 years.
- WHO is working with countries bordering Guinea to put in place necessary disease surveillance measures. Both Sierra Leone and Liberia have reported suspected cases and deaths consistent with ebola virus to WHO among people who had travelled to affected region before symptom onset.
- Liberia has reported 7 suspected cases. Laboratory results from 7 blood samples showed 2 confirmed cases. 27 contacts of these cases are being followed. In Sierra Leone 15 contacts are being followed. These persons attended a burial of a person deceased in Gueckedou.
http://reliefweb.int/organization/who
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World
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World
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N.Y. / Region
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Council members said the death of an inmate in an overheated cell at Rikers Island exposed fundamental flaws in the city’s mental health system.
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U.S.
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Dining & Wine
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U.S.
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Opinion
The Case for Scotland
Another referendum might ask: Should London secede from Britain?If Only It Were the 1930s
I’ve mentioned before that at this point
Europe is actually doing worse in the aftermath of the 2007 crisis than
it did in the Great Depression. Nick Crafts documents this at greater length, and adds a provocative analysis of debt dynamics.
First, his chart:
He also notes that while many European
countries had lower debt ratios in the 30s than they do today, the UK
actually had a substantially higher ratio — and even more so after World
War II. How did it deal with this debt? Not through the recipe
currently being imposed in Europe, of fiscal austerity and internal
devaluation. Instead, the UK relied on a cheap-money policy that
produced low interest rates and moderate inflation — “financial
repression” — with the central bank “subservient” not just to the
government, but to government debt-management policies.
In an earlier paper
Crafts argued, in effect, that high government debt levels may even
have been a sort of advantage, in that they made it possible to credibly
commit to inflationary policies. More than a decade ago Gauti
Eggertsson made a similar argument for Japan in the 1930s.
So how does the current position of Europe
fit into all this? Not well. The central bank isn’t subservient, least
of all to debt-management concerns, and the ideology of austerity rules.
The result is a continuing slump — despite occasional quarters of
growth — and a very bleak outlook."
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