Support needed to contain ebola

More coordination and assistance are required to tackle the epidemic threatening the region

Health workers on the way to bury a woman who died of the Ebola virus from the isolation unit in Foya, Lofa County, Liberia. Ahmed Jallanzo / EPA

Although the global community is waking up to the possibility of a major public health crisis in West Africa as the deadly ebola epidemic spreads rapidly across the region, efforts to prevent the impending disaster need better coordination and global support.

The outbreak that began in Guinea in March spread to neighbouring Liberia and then Sierra Leone, which has been the hardest hit with over 500 cases. A leading doctor treating infected patients in Sierra Leone died on Tuesday, while some nurses are being treated for the symptoms. A man died of the infection in Lagos, Nigeria, on Friday.

With these incidents, the death toll stands at over 670, while the number of infected is estimated at 1,200, making it not only the largest ebola epidemic in history but also the first one to pose a threat to an entire region. A report released last week by Doctors Without Borders said that the outbreak is “out of control”.

Despite ebola’s lethality – it typically kills 90 per cent of those infected – early detection and treatment can save lives. The death rate in the current outbreak is still low because of this. Also, unlike viruses such as measles and influenza that spread through the air, ebola spreads relatively slowly through physical contact with an infected individual or animal.

The problem is the poor medical infrastructure in West Africa, making it a daunting task to bring the epidemic under control. Furthermore, lack of knowledge as well as porous borders allow infected people – who can take up to three weeks to display symptoms – to move to new locations. Because of the way the virus is spreading, coordinated action with better preparedness measures across the region are urgently required.

The World Health Organisation has already been coordinating action with regional governments. Ebola can be contained, but it will take greater resources than those available in West Africa. What is needed now is more outside support in the form of funds, sophisticated mobile equipment for better and faster diagnosis, more medical supplies and more doctors, nurses and support staff.