The highly contagious and deadly Ebola virus has hit Guinea and has so far killed dozens of people.
The local government said on Saturday that it received confirmation about the mysterious disease that has already killed at least 59 people in Guinea's southern forests is the hemorrhagic fever Ebola, a highly infectious and generally fatal disease characterized by fever and severe internal bleeding.
Sakoba Keita, who is in charge of the epidemics prevention in Guinea's Health Ministry, said that of the 12 samples they sent for analysis, six turned out positive of the disease. The Ebola, which kills up to 90 percent of its victims, has never been recorded in Guinea but Keita said there are currently 80 suspected cases of the disease including 59 deaths.
"But you have to understand that not all the cases are necessarily due to Ebola fever. Some will have other origins, including a form of severe dysentery," Keita said.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that the outbreak, which began on February 9, is quickly spreading. "At least 59 out of 80 who contracted Ebola across the West African country have died so far," the UNICEF said in a statement. "Over the past few days, the deadly hemorrhagic fever has quickly spread from the communities of Macenta, Gueckedou, and Kissidougou to the capital, Conakry."
The organization said that the victims included at least three children and at least eight health workers who were apparently infected following contact with patients as Ebola is primarily transmitted through close contact with an infected person or his bodily fluids.
"This outbreak is particularly devastating because medical staff are among the first victims, so far it has killed at least eight health workers who have been in contact with infected patients," the UNICEF said. With very limited sources, sick medical personnel is another big black eye to help infected individuals. The organization has likewise urged Guineans to avoid attending funerals as much as possible to prevent them from contracting the disease.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international medical charity organization, said it will send medical and logistics teams along with medicines and equipment in response to the outbreak.
"These structures are essential to prevent the spread of the disease, which is highly contagious," said MSF tropical medicine adviser Esther Sterk. "Specialized staff are providing care to patients showing signs of infection."
