Another deadly virus outbreak?! Make it stop!!!
We’re already panicked enough about the hantavirus scare, and now there’s a whole new public health emergency declared by the World Health Organization! Ebola is wreaking havoc in Africa, specifically in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and one American has already tested positive!
According to WHO, there are currently more than 500 suspected cases and 130 suspected deaths due to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Heartbreaking.
This strain has a death rate of about 25 to 50 percent. Jeez. Because there’s no cure, treatment is all about supportive care. According to the CDC, patients are experiencing typical Ebola symptoms, such as fever, headache, vomiting, severe weakness, abdominal pain, nosebleeds, and vomiting blood. Health officials are especially concerned as this virus rapidly spreads amid funding cuts and the ongoing hantavirus outbreak.
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The first American to test positive for the virus during this outbreak is Peter Stafford, a doctor working for the missionary org Serge in Congo since 2023, the org announced. He came down with the virus after treating patients at Nyankunde Hospital.
Two other physicians, who are currently asymptomatic, are also being monitored in the group, including his wife, Rebekah Stafford, and Patrick LaRochelle, as well as the Staffords’ four kids. They have all been transported to Germany for treatment and monitoring, per the CDC.
Symptoms begin within 2 to 21 days after contract, with the majority showing up 8 to 10 days after. Because of this, it’s SUPER important to figure out who may have been infected before they’re exposed to the public! Now, the CDC has invoked Title 42, a public health law that allows for the restriction of entry into the US during outbreaks of communicable diseases, for at least 30 days starting on Monday, to ensure this virus doesn’t spread in the States. Enhanced public health screenings and traveler monitoring are going into place, in which non-US passport holders will face entry restrictions if they’ve been to Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, or South Sudan in the past 21 days. Satish Pillai, CDC Ebola response incident manager stressed:
“To the American public, the risk to the United States remains low. Travelers to the region should avoid contact with sick people, report symptoms immediately, and follow our travel guidance.”
Our thoughts are with everyone battling this truly awful disease! We hope health care professionals and emergency response teams can get it under control before it spreads even further.
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[Image created for PerezHilton.com.]
