Outbreak in West Africa worst in world history
The death toll still rings loud and high, as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa continues to spread. Beginning eight months ago in Guinea, the epidemic has spread further into the countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia, as well as parts of Nigeria. As of July 31, 2014, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised a Warning Level 3 (avoid nonessential travel) to Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia.
Named after the Ebola River in the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ebola virus disease, or Ebola, spreading in West Africa is one of five different Ebola viruses that exist. Four of the diseases cause severe illness in humans, while one only affects animals. The disease is infectious but not contagious, meaning that it is not transmitted through the air, but through direct contact of bodily fluids or contaminated objects, such as needles.
While symptoms include hemorrhagic fever, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding or bruising, what is frightening is that these conditions can appear only eight to ten days after exposure. Potentially, symptoms can be dormant for longer, as incubation can last up to 21 days.
The situation appears grave, according to the CDC, who says the outbreaks seen in Guinea and Liberia are the largest and most complex seen so far in history. As such, panic has set in; not only within the infected countries, but abroad as well.
Potentially, however, the hysteria that has spread to developed countries, such as Canada and the US, is unnecessary. In a media briefing, the CDC stated that there is “no significant risk” of an Ebola outbreak in the United States.
This is especially true as West Africa effectively goes into quarantine. Precautions to contain the spread have led to regional and international airlines to cancel flights in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Some borders have also been closed in attempts to control the situation, leading to further isolation of the area.
This isolation has its own severe implications. As trade slows down in quarantined countries, along with a drop in tourism, the economy is not looking good. Agricultural sectors, which contribute about 40 per cent of economic output in Liberia and Sierra Leone, are set to take a hit as trade across borders begins to halt.
In an exclusive interview with The Independent on Sunday, Liberian information minister Lewis Brown said that the effects have been permeating “every aspect of [their] national existence.” Already facing difficulties recovering from the Second Liberian Civil war, the infrastructure and healthcare facilities in Liberia were not prepared for the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the international response to the Ebola outbreak has been, for the most part, weak and slow, as NGOs such as Doctors Without Borders have mostly been responsible for caring for victims. Paul McPhun, Executive Director of Doctors Without Borders, recently called out the Australian Government, saying that the organization is in need of more than just financial aid to fight Ebola; that “what is needed is a massive increase in personnel, equipment, and logistical support that Médicins Sans Frontières alone cannot support.”
Currently, no specific vaccine or medicine has been proven to be effective against Ebola, and as such, continuous treatment remains the most effective defense and cure. A new experimental drug called ZMapp, developed by a biotechnology firm called Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc., recently garnered attention when it was used on humans for the first time, treating two Ebola patients, American medical missionaries Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol. Despite promising results, clinical trials will have to be conducted to further research the drug and meet the proper ethical procedures.
Whether it is because of increasing global security or humanitarian concern, developments as of late speak of a faster and growing global response to the outbreak. With this, perhaps there will be seen a change in the international community’s support on this tragic pandemic before further damage is sown.