Ebola tightens grip on West Africa | Africa | DW | 18.09.2014

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Africa

Ebola tightens grip on West Africa

Since Ebola first emerged in Guinea in March, the virus has spread to other countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. According to the WHO, 3,338 have died (as of September 28)

Health care workers, wearing protective suits (photo: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images)

Since Ebola first emerged in Guinea in March, the deadly disease has spread to other countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. According to the World Health Organization, more than 3,300 people have died so far and some 7,000 are infected.

West Africa

Ebola raging in Sierra Leone, but apparently under control in Nigeria

A children's charity has warned that five people were being infected with Ebola every hour in Sierra Leone, but Nigeria and Senegal appear to have contained the disease. (02.10.2014)  

UN Ebola mission wants 'significant progress' in 60 days

The UN mission to combat Ebola, which opened its headquarters in Ghana, is laying out a strategy to bring the disease under control. Another UN body reports that Ebola orphans are being shunned by suspicious relatives. (30.09.2014)  

Opinion: Time to declare war on Ebola

As with almost all humanitarian crises, the world has been much too hesitant in its reaction to Ebola. Now, the US wants to bring in the military. The EU and Germany should follow suit, says DW's Claus Stäcker. (17.09.2014)  

US pledges military support for fight against Ebola in West Africa

In an effort to contain the Ebola outbreak, the US plans to dispatch thousands of military personnel to assist health care workers in West Africa. Governments in the region have been overwhelmed by the epidemic. (16.09.2014)  

WHO warns Ebola cases could double every three weeks

The World Health Organization has warned that the number of Ebola cases could double every three weeks, with medics stressing it could soon become too late to contain the disease. (16.09.2014)  

Blockades deal another blow to Ebola-hit countries

Politicians, business leaders and aid organizations have called for the lifting of travel restrictions on Ebola affected nations. They say consequences of travel bans are more serious than the virus itself. (10.09.2014)  

Africa Cup at risk over Ebola fears

As the continent gears up for its African Nations Cup qualifiers, concerns are growing that the deadly disease could ruin the games. Some argue soccer players and fans from Ebola-hit countries could spread the virus. (03.09.2014)  

Failures in the fight against Ebola

The world seems to be losing the battle against Ebola. Who is to blame? Critics say the international community is not doing enough to curb the disease. (03.09.2014)  

Ebola's 'avoidable' impact on the West African economy

The Ebola epidemic has a tight grip on West Africa. Now the virus has spread to Senegal, the fifth country in Africa to be affected. As drugs companies scramble to find a cure, the region's economy is feeling the pinch. (31.08.2014)  

Ebola: five countries, one fear

As the Ebola death toll surpasses 1,500, West African health ministers have met in Ghana for crisis talks. They are all united in the fear of the virus spreading; and yet, each country faces individual challenges. (28.08.2014)  

Mwanza: 'We would rather not expose players and fans'

As the Ebola virus continues to ravage West Africa, sport has become the latest casualty. Africa’s soccer governing body CAF has banned Guinea and Sierra Leone from hosting any matches until mid-September. (20.08.2014)  

African governments take isolation measures

African governments are sealing their ports and airports in an attempt to halt the spread of Ebola. But will fever checks and entry bans really make any difference? (19.08.2014)  

Ebola fight hindered by lack of awareness

According to the World Health Organization, the spread of Ebola in West Africa is worse than previously thought. Doctors are facing a difficult battle, partly due to misinformation among the local population. (16.08.2014)  

West African media on Ebola: sensationalist or promoting public health?

Local media in West Africa have a crucial role to play in keeping the population informed about the Ebola outbreak. But there is much debate over how they should be performing this task. (14.08.2014)  

Ebola virus a serious threat to urban areas

The Ebola virus continues to spread in West Africa. As national and international health organizations intensify their fight against the disease, people in big cities are starting to fear a worst case scenario. (01.08.2014)  

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone’s fight against the Ebola virus

A Report by Adrian Kriesch and Jan-Philipp Scholz (04.10.2014)  

Ebola threatens to destroy Sierra Leone and Liberia

The virus is spreading like wildfire. A German Ebola expert tells Deutsche Welle, that it will not be possible to contain the virus with the measures that have been taken so far. (11.09.2014)  

Sierra Leone to enforce lockdown over Ebola fears

Sierra Leone has announced the whole country will be in "complete shutdown" later this month to contain the spread of the Ebola virus. The WHO says more than 2,000 have died in the epidemic across several African states. (06.09.2014)  

Hiding Ebola patients now a crime in Sierra Leone

Anyone convicted of hiding Ebola victims in Sierra Leone will go to jail for two years, after parliament passed legislation making the act a crime. The government says it's trying to prevent the virus from spreading. (23.08.2014)  

Liberia

Opinion: German help for Liberia 'better late than never'

The news that several thousand volunteers from Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, are to join the fight against Ebola, has been welcomed in Liberia, says correspondent Julius Kanubah. (26.09.2014)  

Liberia's forgotten diseases

As Liberia battles the Ebola virus, people suffering from other diseases are afraid to seek treatment. They fear they may be wrongly diagnosed or could contract Ebola if they seek hospital treatment. (16.09.2014)  

Liberian ambassador: 'Ebola is spreading too fast'

In response to a request for help from Liberia for help in the fight against Ebola, German aid agencies are to set up two isolation wards in the capital Monrovia. The death toll in West Africa now exceeds 2,400. (16.09.2014)  

Lewis Brown: Liberia is 'at the limit of its resources'

The World Health Organization (WHO) says over 4,000 people have now contracted the Ebola virus in West Africa. Liberia's Minister of Information, Lewis Brown, told DW about the difficulties his country is facing. (09.09.2014)  

Research

Sights on early 2015: UK starts fast-tracked human Ebola vaccine trials

The Jenner Institute has begun human trials for a candidate Ebola vaccine, which could be rolled out as early as this coming January. The institute's Adrian Hill tells DW what needs to be achieved before that can happen. (18.09.2014)  

Blood-cleansing magnetic device could complement antibiotics to treat sepsis, Ebola

US researchers have developed a magnetic device that fishes bacteria, viruses and toxins out of the blood. It could help treat life-threatening diseases like sepsis and even Ebola. (17.09.2014)  

Influenza 'takes the academic community to school' and can help with Ebola

Ebola is an episodic disease. But that doesn't mean we can't learn from seasonal viruses like influenza on how to deal with Ebola. Infectious diseases expert Dr. Abdullah Brooks shares how this might be possible. (16.09.2014)  

German researchers help in fight against Ebola

In Eastern Germany's Halle, a team of scientists is producing antibodies from tobacco plants. (12.09.2014)  

Unstoppable: is Ebola mutating with unknown consequences before our eyes?

US President Barack Obama says the Ebola virus, currently attacking western Africa, could mutate - making it even more dangerous. The virus has already changed its genome, with unknown consequences. (10.09.2014)  

'Untested Ebola drugs are double-edged sword'

This week the World Health Organization hosts consultations on the use of experimental drugs against Ebola in West Africa. DW speaks to the US Center for Disease Control's top epidemiologist for Ebola, Dr Barbara Knust. (04.09.2014)  

Unprofitable Ebola: Still no proven drug

Ebola has lurked around African tropical rainforests for decades and can have a fatality rate up to 90 percent. But despite Ebola's deadly record, it remains a disease without a proven drug for economic reasons. (29.08.2014)  

How does Ebola spread?

As more doctors treating Ebola patients contract the disease themselves, it's clear that better prevention is needed. But given the virus's resilience and the low Ebola awareness in West Africa, this is no easy task. (21.08.2014)  

Ebola: researchers now know how many doses we need of a vaccine that's yet to exist

We know we need a vaccine to fight Ebola. But how many doses would do it? In a study for the WHO, British researchers say medics would need 30,000 doses. But we've yet to test and approve a vaccine. (21.08.2014)  

Nigeria

Nigeria steps up the fight against Ebola

Nigeria is fighting to become an Ebola-free country again. The government has now set up a free hotline. It is a place where phones ring nonstop. (04.09.2014)  

Nigeria reports new case of Ebola, fears of spread beyond Lagos ease

Nigeria has reported one new case of Ebola, with the disease so far confined to Lagos after concerns were eased slightly that it might have spread. A report of a case in Singapore was said to be a false alarm. (14.08.2014)  

Nigeria announces 10 Ebola cases as outbreak spreads

Nigeria has confirmed a new case of Ebola in its financial capital, Lagos. Senegal and Rwanda have each announced their first suspected cases, as nations take measures to halt the spread of the deadly virus. (11.08.2014)  

Nigeria confirms doctor as second Ebola case

Nigerian authorities have confirmed the country’s second case of Ebola case as a doctor who treated a deceased Ebola patient at the end of July. Three more medical staff are also showing symptoms. (04.08.2014)  

Senegal

Senegal confirms first Ebola case

Senegal has recorded its first case of Ebola in an outbreak that continues to spread through West Africa, Dakar's health ministry said on Friday. The disease has now killed more than 1,500 people this year. (29.08.2014)  

Senegalese Ebola patient evacuated to Germany for treatment

A WHO staffer who has contracted Ebola has arrived in Hamburg for treatment. The Senegalese epidemiologist is just one of many health workers who have contracted the deadly disease in West Africa. (27.08.2014)  

Senegal shuts border to Guinea amid Ebola spread

Senegal has closed its border with Guinea and imposed controls for boats and ships hailing from Ebola-hit countries Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. South Africa has imposed similar measures for travelers. (22.08.2014)  

Democratic Republic of Congo

Ebola outbreak in DRC: same virus, but different

New cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are raising fears that the virus will spread further across Africa. Yet the variety found in Central Africa might be of a different kind. (25.08.2014)  

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