Guinea Ebola spreads to capital Conakry: UNICEF
Iran Press TV
Sun Mar 23, 2014 11:44PM GMT
The Ebola epidemic which has claimed dozens of lives in Guinea's southern forests, has spread to the capital Conakry, says the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
'At least 59 out of 80 who contracted Ebola across the West African country have died so far. Over the past few days, the deadly hemorrhagic fever has quickly spread from the communities of Macenta, Gueckedou, and Kissidougou to the capital, Conakry,' UNICEF said in a statement emailed to AFP on Sunday.
At least three victims of the disease, which broke out on February 9, were children, UNICEF said.
'This outbreak is particularly devastating because medical staff are among the first victims, so far it has killed at least eight health workers who have been in contact with infected patients, hindering the response and threatening normal care in a country already lacking in medical personnel,' the statement added.
The organization said it sent five tons of aid, including medical supplies, to the most affected areas in the southern part of Guinea.
UNICEF's Guinea representative, Mohamed Ag Ayoya, said, "In Guinea, a country with a weak medical infrastructure, an outbreak like this can be devastating.'
'UNICEF has pre-positioned supplies and stepped up communication on the ground to inform and sensitize medical staff and the population on how to avoid contracting Ebola,' Ayoya added.
There is currently no known cure for Ebola, whose symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding.
The virus spreads through direct contact with blood, feces and sweat. It can also be spread through sexual contact or the unprotected handling of contaminated corpses.
Discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976, Ebola remains one of the world's most virulent diseases that kills between 25 to 90 percent of those who fall sick.
The French Embassy in Liberia has released a travel advisory warning French citizens against travel to the affected parts of Guinea or areas on the Liberian- Guinean border.
NT/MAM/AS
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