Ebola Virus & Fever In Guinea: Deadly Outbreak Might Be Contained, Officials Say; How Easily Does It Spread?
An Ebola outbreak in West Africa has continued to devastate the region but officials in Guinea are indicating that the outbreak may have peaked.
According to Reuters, the Health Minister in Guinea said that people are dying at a slower rate and that the outbreak is nearly contained. It will not be said to be under control until no more cases are reported, according to spokesperson Rafi Diallo.
The fever, which is said to be deadly in approximately 90 percent of the cases, is actually does not spread that easily and to catch it you have to spend a great deal of time close to someone who has it, according to CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The most common way to get it is through family members or close friends, he indicated.
Still, this is precisely why it has managed to spread across these areas because people are close together for long periods of time. In addition to Guinea, the outbreak has spilled into Liberia and Sierra Leone. As outbreaks intensify, Gupta says, the chances of dying become even higher.
"With an international airport close by, that means you could be on the other side of the world before you develop the headache, fever, fatigue and joint pain which make up the early symptoms of an Ebola infection," he said in an article for CNN. "The diarrhea, rash and bleeding come later. Hiccups is a particularly grave sign with Ebola. It means your diaphragm, which allows you to breathe, is starting to get irritated."
What do you think will happen next with this outbreak? Could it spread beyond West Africa or will it be under control soon? Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments section located below.