100 more Ebola deaths reported, as death toll sails beyond 800

August 2014 – AFRICA – The surge in Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases and deaths in West Africa continues, particularly in Liberia and Sierra Leone, according to new numbers released by The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa. According to the UN health agency as of 30 July 2014, the cumulative number of cases attributed to EVD in the four countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria) stands at 1, 440 including 826 deaths. The situation in Guinea appears to be more stable during the recent couple of days; however, the outbreak in Sierra Leone and Liberia “calls for concentrated efforts by all to address the identified problems such as health facility transmission and effective contact tracing. More human resources experts need are requested in these two countries to really tackle the progress of this outbreak.”

In Nigeria, two suspected cases among the contacts followed up at the airport were tested negative for the first PCR test. Another test will be done 48 hour after to confirm the status. WHO officials also note that they are seeking possible contacts from the flight to Lagos disembarked in Lomé, Togo.  For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page. The distribution and classification of the EVD cases are as follows: Guinea, 472 cases (337 confirmed, 122 probable, and 12 suspected) including 346 deaths; Liberia, 391 cases (109 confirmed, 181 probable, and 101 suspected) including 227 deaths; Sierra Leone, 574 cases (507 confirmed, 41 probable, and 26 suspected) including 252 deaths; and Nigeria, 3 cases (1 probable and 2 suspected) and 1 death. –Outbreak News