Ebola Death Toll Jumps To 467 Out Of 759 Known West African Cases

[hatrack]

(Reuters) - The number of deaths attributed to an epidemic of Ebola virus in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone stood at 467 by Monday, out of 759 known cases in total, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. The outbreak of the deadly disease is already the largest and deadliest ever, according to the WHO, which previously put the death toll at 399 as of June 23, out of 635 cases.

The 17 percent rise in deaths and 20 percent jump in cases in the space of a week will add urgency to an emergency meeting of 11 West African health ministers in Accra, Ghana on Wednesday and Thursday, which aims to coordinate a regional response. (Full Story)

In response to the outbreak, Liberian authorities have on Tuesday warned that anyone caught hiding suspected Ebola patients will be prosecuted Some families, faith healers and traditional doctors were reported to be removing patients from hospital for special prayers and traditional medicine.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said in a statement that the crisis has become a national public health emergency, urging people to heed health guidelines.

EDIT

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/01/us-health-ebola-idUSKBN0F659F20140701

[SheilaT]

1. Ebola is not that incredibly contagious.

The problem is contact with those infected, and how the dead in these cultures are handled.

While Ebola is a very terrible disease, it's not likely to become common or widespread. Which is not to diminish the very real need to control this particular outbreak.