Rapid response in Liberia
Liberian health authorities immediately reactivated the country’s emergency response mechanisms, and with support from WHO, CDC and other partners, set to work identifying, isolating and monitoring contacts of the confirmed cases, strengthening infection prevention and disease control measures and stepping up community outreach.More than 100 contacts of the confirmed cases have been identified in Liberia and placed under voluntary medical observation. Affected households have been offered food, water, hygiene supplies and counselling. Preparations are underway for vaccination of contacts with the Ebola vaccine to prevent potential spread of the virus.
Vaccination of Ebola contacts in Guinea
A large-scale government-led response continues in Guinea’s prefectures of Nzérékoré and Macenta, where there have been 9 Ebola cases since the flare-up began in late February. Eight people have died and one 11-year old child remains in treatment in an Ebola care centre.To date, over 1,400 people who may have been in contact with the confirmed cases and contacts of theirs have been vaccinated with the Ebola vaccine.
Ebola flare-ups anticipated
Tests from blood samples of the confirmed cases indicate the source of the virus is from a single and known transmission chain – suggesting exposure to infected body fluids from a survivor – rather than a re-introduction of Ebola virus from the wild animal population.WHO has stressed that flare-ups of Ebola like this one are likely to occur for some time, due to virus persistence in some survivors. WHO says Ebola-affected countries must remain ready to respond and maintain strong prevention, surveillance and survivor care programmes.