The Ebola Virus
IIHA Humanitarian News Brief
The deadly Ebola virus that has been terrorizing Guinea, Sierra Leone, and
Liberia since the epidemic began in March has most recently been reported in
Nigeria. The current outbreak has so far infected 1,600 people and killed more than
880 people in West Africa, making it the deadliest outbreak in the diseases history -
between the discovery of the Ebola virus in 1976 and the current outbreak, only
2,300 infections had been recorded. The virus, which attacks the immune system
upon entering the hosts body, leaves patients with flu-like symptoms and
uncontrollable bleeding. With no vaccine, and no cure, the primary treatment
offered to patients is termed supportive care and consists of fluids, pain relief, and
the management of clotting problems. According to Mdecins Sans Frontires
(MSF), one of only two NGOs currently operating in the region working to quell the
epidemic, the main way that the virus has been spreading in the West African region
is at funerals. MSF notes that when one person dies, people from all over will come
and practice their bereavement rituals including touching and kissing the
unembalmed body without washing their hands after. Now that one case of the
virus has spread from the three original countries to Lagos, Nigeria, there is growing
concern by Western governments that the epidemic could spread out of Africa. In
late July two Americans working in Liberia contracted the infection, further
prompting concern about the diseases potential to spread to countries in Europe,
and the United States.
Dr. Kent Brantly, one of the two Americans infected with the virus, arrived at
Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on August 2
nd
. Nancy Writebol, the other
American infected, arrived Tuesday, August 5
th
. The Director of the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control (CDC), Thomas Frieden, appeared on CBS Face the Nation on
Sunday saying that it is unlikely that Ebola will spread in America.
Further addressing these concerns is the Institute of International
Humanitarian Affairs Helen Hamlyn Senior Fellow, Dr. Alexander van Tulleken. In a
London Telegraph article, Dr. van Tulleken explains that Ebola has a few main
problems as a virus: it kills its victims too quickly and infected people are
extremely symptomatic its actually not that contagious. Patrick Sawyer, the
Liberian man who brought Ebola to Lagos, doesnt seem to have infected anyone
else despite being extremely unwell on a crowded plane. Dr. Peter Piot, co-
discoverer of the disease and the Director of the London School of Tropical Medicine
and Hygiene, says, Spreading in the population here, Im not that worried about it. I
wouldnt be worried to sit next to someone with Ebola virus on the Tube as long as
they didnt vomit on you or something. In interviews with CNN, BBC World Service,
Al Jazeera, and MSNBC, Dr. van Tulleken says it is important that no one in the West
panic about this disease, this isnt a disease thats coming to New York or London.
It is possible that there could be a case of the virus in a city like New York or London
but, our public health systems are so much better than Sierra Leone, Guinea, or
Liberia that we are dealing with a totally different phenomenon here. Dr. van
Tulleken argues that although we should not worry about an Ebola epidemic
spreading to the West, we should care about the disease, first and foremost for
humanitarian reasons, but also for reasons of self-interest. To support his
argument, Dr. van Tulleken emphasizes that, The epidemic disease is a threat which
desperately needs attention, and this epidemic is revealing weaknesses in the ability
of the international system to respond. In the largest Ebola epidemic ever, there
are only two NGOs, MSF and Samaritans Purse who are currently responding in the
West African region. According to MSF, they need twice as many people to respond
to the rapidly growing epidemic: We simply dont have the numbers to delegate all
the things that have to be done when were in the isolation wardWe would like to
keep a visit between 45 minutes and one hour, but now, were stretching it to almost
two hours. We put ourselves through a very strong psychological stress when were
in personal protection gear, because its impermeable. In Monrovia, Liberia the
overcrowded and understaffed Elwa Hospital has had to turn away patients this
week, in part because of the withdrawal of some international staff following the
infection of Dr. Brantly and Ms. Writebol. Dr. van Tulleken sees the Ebola outbreak
as an opportunity to improve our regional and international co-ordination of
epidemic control and the capacity of NGOs and UN agencies because this Ebola
epidemic isnt going to come to Europe but its spread and death toll is a warning
that we arent prepared for diseases that could.
Updated 8/5/14
For More Information:
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'Ebola is terrifying - and proves how unprepared we are for epidemics' -
The Telegraph
Second American Ebola Patient en Route to U.S. For Care - USA Today
Ebola Patient Arrives in the U.S. - MSNBC
Ebola: We Take Precautions Medecins Sans Frontieres
In Liberias Capital, Fear of Ebola Hampers Official Response - Reuters
Ebola Patient Dr. Kent Brantly Arrives at U.S. Hospital from Liberia - NBC
News
Ebola Outbreak: Kent Brantly Is Improving, Nancy Writebol to Arrive Later
This Week - International Business Times
The Ebola Outbreak - NY Times
Sierra Leone Declares Health Emergency Over Ebola - NY Times
Doc.: Ebola Unlikely to Spread to Cities CNN
Newshour: Could Ebola be a Global Epidemic? - BBC World Service
Liberia Shuts Schools as Ebola Spreads, Peace Corps Leaves 3 Countries -
Reuters
Sierra Leone President Declares State of Emergency - Reuters
Ebola Outbreak in West Africa - Reuters
What is the Ebola Virus, and How Worried Should We Be? The Telegraph
Outbreak of Ebola in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
Fear of Ebola Breeds a Terror of Physicians - NY Times
