Guinea has declared an Ebola outbreak for the first time since 2016 when a two-year outbreak in West Africa finally ended after killing more than 11,000 people.
Ebola is a rare but deadly virus that causes fever, body aches, and diarrhoea, and sometimes bleeding inside and outside the body. As the virus spreads through the body, it damages the immune system and organs. Ultimately, it causes levels of blood-clotting cells to drop. Ebola can cause fever, aches, and fatigue before progressing to “wet” symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, and haemorrhaging. On average, its fatality rate is about 50%.
The virus spreads through the bodily fluids of a sick or recently deceased person. Certain body fluids, like semen, can still transmit the virus after an infected person has recovered from their illness, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infected animals, like bats or primates, can transmit the virus to humans and spark new outbreaks.
The new outbreak, in the town of Gouécké, has already killed three – two women and a man. They were among seven people who attended a nurse’s funeral on February 1 and later came down with diarrhoea, vomiting, and bleeding. All seven cases have now been confirmed as Ebola virus.
Guinea's first case was detected in a nurse who died in late January
Already at least seven people who attended her funeral have reported symptoms, including five people who have died
Others have been isolated in treatment centres, but experts warned more cases may emerge
— Telegraph Global Health Security (@TelGlobalHealth) February 17, 2021
The outbreak, which was officially declared an epidemic on Sunday, is close to the border with Liberia, raising concerns about the spread of the virus into neighbouring countries pic.twitter.com/PNTfQYSzZX
— Telegraph Global Health Security (@TelGlobalHealth) February 17, 2021
On Sunday, the outbreak was declared as an epidemic.
