The positive news about the Ebola virus outbreak seems to have not lasted long enough as World Health Organization reports of flare-ups.
WHO has been carefully monitoring the deadly Ebola outbreak in West African nations, especially Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. While the previous weeks have posted record lows in terms of number of cases and deaths, the last week of January speak of an opposite trend.
As reported by WHO on Wednesday, February 4, there's an increase of cases, a phenomenon they call a flare-up, especially during the last week of the first month of the year up February 1. While the number of cases reported had only been 99 across these three countries during a week toward January 25, it rose to 124 per the latest count.
Of all three countries, Sierra Leone made up more than 75 of these cases. The least number had been reported in Liberia while the rest were in Guinea.
WHO sees two possible reasons for the flare-up. One is the lack of cooperation among communities with health care workers, arising from suspicion especially every time medical personnel arrive wearing their PPE (personal protective equipment). There have already been confirmed reports of resistance against health workers who are in town to investigate and disinfect homes. In Guinea alone, almost 32% of the prefectures had at least one incident involving refusal on health workers a week ago.
The other possible cause is the continued burial tradition of the locals, which has already been discouraged by health organizations and their respective governments.
It's a custom among the communities to touch the dead before burying them, increasing the risk of Ebola infection as the virus spreads through contact with body fluid. For example, a Guinean burial in the early days of January led to more than 10 confirmed Ebola cases.
WHO strongly recommends ramping up efforts before the rainy season begins. Otherwise, it will be more difficult for health workers to respond to infections as roads may become impassable.