Dear Colleagues,
A total of 9,936 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported since the beginning of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa up to the end of 19 October. A total of 4,877 deaths have also been reported. The real number of cases is believed to be much higher than those reported. Estimates indicate that the actual number of cases could be higher by a factor of 1.5 in Guinea, 2 in Sierra Leone and 2.5 in Liberia, while the death rate is thought to be about 70 percent of all cases.
In the past week, transmission of the disease was most widespread in Liberia’s and Sierra Leone’s capital cities of Monrovia and Freetown. Transmission remains lower in Guinea, but Guinea's capital Conakry still reported its second highest weekly total since the outbreak began. While the number of treatment beds has increased substantially to 1,126, this figure only represents 25 percent of the beds expected to be needed. Likewise, WHO has received commitments from foreign medical teams to staff only 30 out of the 50 Ebola treatment units needed. Twelve laboratories, out of the estimated 28 needed, are now in place. Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone are also in need of 20,000 staff members to conduct contact tracing and an additional 90 dead-body-management teams.
The outbreaks of EVD in Senegal and Nigeria were declared over on 17 October and 19 October 2014, respectively. Both Spain and the United States continue to monitor potential contacts. In the U.S., all travelers from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone are now required to enter the country at one of five international airports conducting Ebola-related health screenings (N.Y.’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark, Washington-Dulles, Chicago O'Hare and Atlanta). Federal authorities have also announced that everyone traveling into the U.S. from Ebola-stricken nations will be monitored for symptoms for 21 days. This includes returning aid workers, federal health employees, journalists, as well as West African travelers. In the separate outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1,116 contacts have now completed the 21-day follow-up and five contacts are still being monitored.
Fifteen countries that neighbor Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone or that have strong trade and travel ties with any of the three countries have been prioritized for preparedness assistance from WHO teams. These countries are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, and Togo. Beginning with missions to Cote D’Ivoire and Mali, WHO teams will help detect gaps in their capacity to identify and respond to an initial case.
Please email David Rolph, our director of Global Security, david_rolph@abtassoc.com and cc Sarah Dedic, sarah_dedic@abtassoc.com with any questions you have about the status of the outbreak.
Best,
Jay
Jay L. Knott | Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer | Abt Associates
O: 301-347-5896| F: 301-828-9739 | www.abtassociates.com
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