Ebola virus slowing down?

            The latest news about the Ebola virus is that the outbreak in Liberia is potentially slowing down.
The outbreak has slowed down so much that there are empty hospital beds in some treatment centers.  This does not mean that the crisis is over, it means that humans have the upper hand for now. The crisis could up rise again at any point and time.
             Statistics show that Liberia has been effected by Ebola the most.  There has been 6535 cases, 2515 laboratory confirmed cases and 2413 deaths in Liberia alone. The total death toll is at about 4,922. Centers of disease and control alerts all countries to avoid nonessential travel to Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. Due to the outbreak these are the countries heavily affected. Even though the outbreak may be decreasing, the precautions should be followed as usual.   

    

"Ebola Cases 'slowing in Liberia'" BBC News. BBC News, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.

 "Ebola Outbreak - Case Counts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 Oct. 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
"Ebola in Liberia." - Warning. Centre of Dicease and Control, n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.

Aid for west Africa

           The Ebola outbreak has been ongoing for a while now, and there has not been any sign of cases in Canada. If Canada does get a case or two we are not to panic. Canada is ready for the outbreak. "Canadian and U.S. health officials stressed that the risk to the public is low, given that health systems in North America include clean water, protective equipment such as masks, gowns and gloves that are in short supply in West Africa." Our hospitals all over Canada are ready to take action whenever that action is needed, or if ever.  

            Canadians have the urge to help west Africa in the act to save the country from the outbreak. The one problem we have is that we have the aids to help but no transportation for the aids, such as medication, protective clothing, and clean water. Several commercial airlines have denied the request to transport these aids, due to the protecting the other passengers aboard. Most of the aid arrives by sea. Transportation by sea is very slow, by the time the aid arrives the virus has killed several more. West Africa needs volunteers and aid, they cannot fight the outbreak alone. 

                                          Example of protective clothing/gear. 
                                               

 News, CBC. "Ebola Preparedness Plan Ready, Canada's Health Officials Say." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 01 Oct. 2014. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.

Ebola in west Africa precautions.

            Many North Americans are becoming worried about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. There has been one confirmed case in North America compared to the thousands upon thousands in Africa and Europe. I believe as a whole we should not panic and fear. We should simply just follow precautions and work together to find a cure.

            There are many ways we can protect ourselves and our country from the virus. Many airports are taking the precaution to protect the people from international travelers coming from infected countries by screening those travelers. Other ways to take precaution is to avoid infected countries, wash your hands frequently, avoid bush meat, avoid contact with infected people/animals, follow infection and control procedures and also do not handle the remains of a body that has died from the virus. 

             The reason the virus is spreading so fast in Africa is because of the burial ritual. The families of the deceased carry the body to the grave site and kiss the body. "Ebola victims are most infectious right after death—which means that West African burial practices, where families touch the bodies, are spreading the disease like wildfire."  Because the bodies are so infectious the medical teams have a designated team to dispose of the casualties."But prohibiting communities from properly honoring their dead ones—and thereby worsening their distrust in medical professionals—can be deadly, too."
  

Malcolm Linton/Liaison

Haglage, Abby. "Kissing the Corpses in Ebola Country." The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 13 Aug. 2014. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.

English 12 Project Ebola in West Africa

This year in English 12 the class has been assigned to write a blog about Africa. The topic can be about anything in Africa. For my project I chose the serious out break of Ebola in West Africa.  

Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a very dangerous virus and is often deadly to humans. This virus is transmitted from wild animals to humans. It is then transmitted from human to human. The average fatality rate is 50%.  The first Ebola outbreak occurred in remote villages in Central Africa, near tropical rainforests, but the most recent outbreak in West Africa has involved major urban as well as rural areas. The virus was first discovered in 1976 there have been more cases and deaths in the 2014 outbreak than any other. The largest outbreak there has ever been. The Virus is becoming widespread, spreading to nearby countries and even the US. There has been one confirmed victim in Dallas, Texas.  

           

In efforts to stop this outbreak, volunteers and organizations have traveled to Africa risking there own lives. The organizations include the world health organization (WHO), the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), Médecins Sans Frontières

(MSF) and many more 

A micrograph of the deadly Ebola virus as provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AFP PHOTO

"Ebola Virus Disease." World Health Organization. World Health Organization, Sept. 2014. Web. 2 Oct. 2014.