Just this year, the return of the dreaded Ebola virus in West Africa has created global concern over another possible outbreak. As of July 23, 2014 over 1000 cases of the disease have been reported across West Africa and 672 have perished, making this the most widespread outbreak of the virus is recorded history.
To date, the Ebola virus disease, known previously as the Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is still one of the worlds most contagious and fatal diseases. Severely ill patients to contract the deadly virus will require intensive care, which places health workers at a higher risk of getting infected with this highly communicable disease, especially if they lack the proper training in barrier nursing methods and if their facilities lack the proper medical equipment. Family and community members are also at risk of developing the disease due to exposure or close contact with the infected patients as well as the bodies of the dead victims.
This year the outbreak began in Guinea, but healthcare workers are optimistic because of the significant decline in the number of Ebola cases over the past months, and an astonishing 75% recovery rate the past several weeks. Unfortunately, the neighboring countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia appear to have a steadily increasing amount of infected patients and medical missions are being stepped up in these areas to address the situation. With a strain already being put on medical resources, International organizations and worldwide health authorities are beginning to struggle trying to bring this outbreak under control.
With the current scale of infection, Dr. Bruce Johnson of SIM USA is appealing to the international community to do what they can and respond to the needs of the people in Liberia as the outbreak could potentially cause widespread destruction across the country. Cases of Ebola in Liberia have reached critical levels as cases are being confirmed in several counties including the capital city, Monrovia.
News of the outbreak has the international community concerned about the likelihood of the virus spreading outside of West Africa, but Dr. Stephan Monroe of the US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention or CDC put concerns to rest saying that there are no current reported cases of Ebola in the United States and that the possibility of an outbreak occurring outside West Africa is very low.