The first case of Ebola, since 1994, has been confirmed by the Ministry of Health of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on Sunday. This came after the Institut Pasteur, in Côte d’Ivoire, confirmed that the Ebola Virus Disease was present in samples collected from a patient, who was hospitalised in the commercial capital of Abidjan, after arriving from Guinea.
Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness, affecting humans and other primates. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. There is now effective treatment available and, if patients receive treatment early, as well as supportive care, their chances of survival improve significantly.
Initial investigations found that the patient had travelled to Côte d’Ivoire by road and arrived in Abidjan on August 12. The patient was admitted to a hospital after experiencing a fever and is currently receiving treatment.
Guinea experienced a four-month long Ebola outbreak, which was declared have passed on June 19 this year. There is no indication that the current case in Côte d’Ivoire is linked to the earlier outbreak in Guinea. Further investigation and genomic sequencing will identify the strain and determine if there is a connection between the two outbreaks.
WHO staff, based in Côte d’Ivoire, are supporting the investigation into the case. In addition, a multi-disciplinary team of WHO experts, covering all key response areas, will be deployed rapidly to the field. They will help with ramping up infection prevention and control of health facilities, diagnostics, contact tracing, treatment, and reaching out to communities to ensure they take a key role in the response.
Travel restrictions have not been advised. However, the WHO has advised that while countries are focused on the Covid-19 response, they should strengthen their preparedness for potential Ebola cases.
In other news – Actress Rami Chuene mourns
It’s a sad day today for Rami Chuene and her family as they have lost a loved one in a car accident.
The Isono actress revealed on social media that the woman they reported missing was actually found but she was deceased. Learn more
Source: News365
