The Scare of Spread of Ebola from West Africa to Other Countries in the World (Essay Sample)

The Scare of Spread of Ebola from West Africa to Other Countries in the World

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22, 11, 2014
Introduction
Over this week, the fear for Ebola pandemic has been hitting the news headlines media across the world. The fear follows the overwhelming outbreak of the epidemic in Guinea and Sierra Leone. Additionally, Liberia has also reported many cases of the virus in mid-September this year (Frieden, et.al, 2014). The fear started after some citizens tested positive for Ebola virus. These people are citizens who had volunteered and traveled to Ebola-affected areas in West Africa to offer help. On fighting the epidemic, some people contracted the Ebola virus – a great number of those who tested positive on return have recovered while the rest have succumbed to death. Almost all the countries that sent their doctors and nurses to the fight a month ago have experienced have had their medics experience Ebola related symptoms. Citizens of the affected states, especial those of New York have developed fear over their life from this trending situation.
Analysis of the situation
On 20th, Thursday, 2014, a man from Brooklyn, New York city developed symptoms consistent with those of the Ebola epidemic. A week ago the man - Hamen Sibu was tested for the virus but tested negative. However, when Sibu reported Ebola virus-symptoms like at Bellevue hospital, the health department opted to hold Sibu in isolation for some time. Studies from specialized doctors about this pandemic have revealed that a patient can experience Ebola pandemic symptoms but still test negative. Such case of the test occurs more especially during the early phase of the Ebola virus – when virus load is low in the body (Towner, et.al, 2004). This man is reported to have returned from the West Africa two weeks earlier. In this regard, the doctor died on 17th, Monday this week from the epidemic. The doctor contracted the virus in West Africa while treating Ebola patients. In addition, two nurses had tested positive but recovered after they were taken to specialized care units in Bethesda and Atlanta. These nurses had contracted Ebola while they were at Dallas Hospital. These are among the few Ebola related incidents that have built fear over the likely outbreak of the epidemic in the USA.
So far, ten cases of Ebola infection have been reported in America – eight of these persons have recovered. The other two died from the disease. In Spain, three Ebola incidents have been reported; two persons have died, and one recovered. There are two reported incidents in France – one person has recovered while the other one is still under treatment. Germany has so far recorded three incidents of Ebola; there has been one recovery, one death, and the third person is under treatment. Britain and Norway have each reported one Ebola incident. All the victims of Ebola pandemic either contracted the virus while attending to Ebola patients in West Africa or treating fellow citizens returning from Africa with the infection.
During the fight against the epidemic in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, some immigrants in these countries flew back to their countries such as Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal. In this regard, Mali has been terribly affected. An infected seventy-year-old religious leader – imam traveled from Guinea to Mali and infected a nurse and a doctor at the Pasteur clinic in Bamako. Also, there is another person who contracted the virus after paying the imam a visit at the hospital. This imam’s friend has been reported to have infected other Malians. According to the latest news, the imam, the nurse, a doctor and the imam's friend have all died. Additionally, a two-year-old girl has been reported dead in Mali due to the epidemic. The girl contracted Ebola while in Guinea before traveling to Mali, where she tested positive. Luckily, the girl did not infect those who had contact with her (World Health Organization, 2014).
The death toll has so far reached about seven in Mali. In the effort of treating an Ebola patient in Mali, a Spanish doctor also has been reported to have contracted the epidemic over this week. The arrangement is ongoing to fly the Spanish doctor to Madrid for specialized treatment. Bamako is one of the most affected regions with the highest Ebola cases. In an effort to contain the outbreak, the Malian government agencies together with WHO is investigating potential chain of transmission as well as monitoring contacts of infected people in an effort to prevent further spread of the disease. To date, about 300 contacts have been traced and most of whom have been put under daily surveillance. Also, in the Middle of the last month, an infected man had flown to Nigeria from Guinea and infected few Nigerians but the condition was contained; the victims recovered. In this respect, on 20th, November, 2014, the World Health Organization declared Nigeria free from Ebola pandemic.
In India, a man traveled back to Delhi and quarantined on arrival. The man had turned out to be positive of Ebola virus while still in Liberia. When the man was examined and tested at Delhi, the result was negative. However, traces of Ebola virus were detected in a man’s semen. In this regard, the man was isolated to prevent transmission of the virus through sexual contact. The health authorities promised to release the man when his body fluids become clean – with no any traces of Ebola virus. Further, in regard to Sierra Leone, the ministry of health announced (on 20th, November, 2014) 58 ailing cases and nine deaths due to Ebola pandemic. Along with this announcement, a Cuban medical doctor (one of the medical team that was treating Ebola patients) was reported to be positive of Ebola virus. Plans are under way to evacuate the doctor to Geneva, Switzerland at university Hospital for special treatment. Also, the most recent situational report of the week by world health organization stated that Liberia and Guinea have contained the rate of infection, and the number of deaths is decreasing persistently.
Lesson learned
In accordance to the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the world has experienced and learned a lot. First, the world has demonstrated that unity by coming together and fight for the lives. Through World Health Organization, medical specialists from different parts of the world volunteered to help the people in Ebola-affected areas in West Africa. Some of these volunteers have died and were still dying in a fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and most recently in Mali. These medical specialists have proven their love that they have for other human beings. Additionally, through the supply of food, drinks, and medicines to countries that are infected with Ebola virus, various countries, and organization bodies have justified that human beings care about fellow humans. People have shown togetherness, cooperation, compassion and unity towards people in West Africa. All parties involved in combating the transmission of Ebola, mitigating the number of deaths from the epidemic and creating awareness of the disease people have a gracious spirit. These people are in fact heroes in saving life.
Recommendations
Basing on the large number of Ebola patients that have succumbed to this viral disease, Ebola has proven enough that it is a deadly disease. Therefore, it requires great care when getting into contact with infected persons. The disease is very contagious, if awareness and care ...