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New Ebola outbreak in the Congo misinformation calls it an Epidemic

 

The Confusion Over the New Ebola Outbreak

A mistranslation is spreading misinformation about the news from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

The Ebola virus has emerged again in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and brought along two of its primary symptoms: confusion and misinformation.

Earlier this morning, the World Health Organization announced that on May 11, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) notified WHO and partners of a case of Ebola, which had been confirmed by a national reference laboratory in Kinshasa. A small wave of early stories reported this news, but at some point, the facts seemed to change. The AFP said: “Ebola epidemic declared in northeast DR Congo, three dead: WHO.”

Here’s what happened: Since April 22, 2017, there have been nine suspected cases of hemorrhagic fever in the DRC. Three of those people have died, one of whom tested positive for Ebola Zaire—the most dangerous of the virus’s several species. Of the nine cases, five have been tested and only one has been confirmed for Ebola. (It is not clear whether the five tests included all three deaths.)


https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/05/a-new-ebola-outbreak-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/526506/

2 comments

Thanks Viv 

Part of a UN Report 

There are a few factors that have improved since 2014. Communities have not entirely forgotten what they learned about sickness and the handling of bodies. They are more likely to cooperate with public health authorities now than they were three years ago. Finally, we now have a major tool to stop outbreaks; a highly effective vaccine has been developed for one strain of the virus. The vaccine is 100% effective for ten days after administration; there is no data yet on whether its protection will last for longer periods. The vaccine will be most useful deployed early to stop an outbreak – which means its effectiveness depends on good disease surveillance systems.

When Ebola transmits again, which is a certainty – from forest animals, or from survivors – we will have to hope those improvements are enough.

it certainly sounds like the most awful disease,       hope it doesnt get here,   

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