Patients affected by the fatal Ebola disease in Guinea and Liberia are recovering as the World Health Organization intensifies its efforts to contain the outbreak.
The Ebola virus causes the Ebola virus disease, which has a high fatality rate of up to 90 percent. The outbreak of EVD mainly happens in the remote villages of Western and Central Africa. The Ebola virus is transmitted to humans from wild animals and spreads via direct body contact.
No specific treatment or medication is available to cure the deadly disease in animals or in humans, nor is there a vaccine. However, a better chance of recovering from the disease exists if it is identified in the early stages and the patient gets proper medical attention. WHO is working hard to contain the disease, which has recently affected Guinea and Liberia. Many people have already died due to its outbreak. However, reports suggest that some people who were infected in Guinea have recovered and have been allowed to return to their homes.
"Today's discharge of patients shows that Ebola is not always fatal. Good, early supportive care such as hydration, nutrition and appropriate medication can have a positive impact," said Dr. Tom Fletcher, an infectious disease physician at WHO. He provides clinical care to Ebola patients in Conakry, the capital of Guinea.
"After being triaged at the emergency room, people presenting Ebola-like symptoms are directed to the Department of Infectious Disease. After a more detailed exam, patients meeting the case definition are referred to this isolation ward," explained Fletcher.
WHO reports that a few individuals who had symptoms of the disease spent seven days in the isolation ward at Donka national teaching hospital. However, as the patients were showing no symptoms for three days and tested negative for the disease, they were released and sent home.
WHO and other medical agencies are trying their best to contain the disease with training of workers who track cases of the disease and training in infection control procedures for health care workers. It is important to stop new infections, especially amongst health workers who are treating patients. Since they are in direct contact with the victims in the early stages, they are more prone to get infected themselves.
WHO also suggests collaboration and effective management among WHO, the Ministry of Health in the country and their partners, with all taking appropriate steps to respond to the deadly outbreak.
