Health

Guinea Trial Begins for Suspected Killers of Ebola Workers

Mon, 2015-03-23 15:31 — mike kraft

ASSOCIATED PRESS by Boubacar Diallo March 23, 2015

CONAKRY, Guinea -- The trial of people accused of killing eight Ebola health workers and journalists opened Monday in a remote region of Guinea.

The trial highlights the challenges health workers faced in this Ebola outbreak that has claimed more than 10,000 lives, mostly in the impoverished West African nations of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Around 78 suspects are being tried in the town of N'Nzerekore, 900 kilometers (560 miles) from the capital Conakry, Ministry of Justice spokesman Ibrahima Beavogui said.

The killings happened when a delegation of health care workers, including top health officials from the nearby town, visited Womey last September to raise awareness about how to combat Ebola. They were attacked by a mob armed with knives and stones.

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Ebola outbreak 'over by August', UN suggests

Mon, 2015-03-23 15:01 — mike kraft

BBC by Smitha Mundasad March 23, 2015

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa will be over by August, the head of the UN Ebola mission has told the BBC.

Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed admitted the UN had made mistakes in handling the crisis early on, sometimes acting "arrogantly".

A year after the outbreak was officially declared, the virus has killed more than 10,000 people...

The head of the UN Ebola response mission told the BBC, when the virus first struck, "there was probably a lack of knowledge and there was a certain degree of arrogance, but I think we are learning lessons.

"We have been running away from giving any specific date, but I am pretty sure myself that it will be gone by the summer."

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http://www.bbc.com/news/health-32009508

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One Year Later, Ebola Outbreak Offers Lessons for Next Epidemic

Mon, 2015-03-23 12:02 — mike kraft

IN DEPTH OVERVIEW OF THE EBOLA CRISIS AND LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE
NEW YORK TIMES by Sheri Fink, MD, and Pam Belluck March 23, 2015

One year has passed since the declaration of what became the largest Ebola outbreak in history, with more than 10,000 deaths..

Assessing the lessons of an Ebola outbreak that became the largest in history, with 10,000 dead. Credit Daniel Berehulak for The New York Times

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Liberians overcome fear to volunteer for Ebola vaccine trial

Sun, 2015-03-22 13:41 — mike kraft

ASSOCIATED PRESS by Jpnathan Paye-Layleh March 22, 2015

MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberians are overcoming their fears of Ebola to volunteer for a vaccine trial...

One year after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak, vaccine trials are under way in Liberia and Guinea. Sierra Leone will start a trial later this month.

In Liberia, scientists have fanned out across the country to explain the studies and reduce the fear and confusion that have stymied efforts to contain Ebola.

Dr. Stephen Kennedy, the Liberian lead investigator for the study, was among the first people to volunteer for the vaccine trial, getting his injection in front of the media. Similarly, in Guinea, authorities started the study by injecting a series of prominent officials, including the head of the country's Ebola response.

The outreach worked in Liberia, where more than 700 people have volunteered, well beyond the 600 required, according to Kennedy.

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http://news.yahoo.com/liberians-overcome-fear-volunteer-ebola-vaccine-trial-120848405.html

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How to stop the next epidemic

Sat, 2015-03-21 19:33 — mike kraft

THE ECONOMIST May 19, 2015

..when the next epidemic breaks out, how do we prevent it from spreading around the world? It is easier said than done.

First: Early detection is critical, and it relies on good surveillance. But only 64 of the 194 member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have the surveillance procedures, laboratories and data-management capabilities required by the International Health Regulations. Improvements in things like basic public health infrastructure are needed...

Second: A swift response to an outbreak – which might involve getting skilled people, equipment and money to the right places – can potentially save more lives than drugs and vaccines. ... The World Health Organisation and the global community were slow to recognise that there was an international public health emergency.

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Ebola data and statistics : WHO

Sat, 2015-03-21 19:04 — mike kraft

WHO SITUATION SUMMARY March 20, 2015

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Ebola-proof tablet designed by Google rolled out in Sierra Leone disease centre

Sat, 2015-03-21 15:09 — mike kraft

THE TELEGRAPH by Aislinn Laing March 20, 2015

An Ebola-proof tablet that can survive being doused in chlorine and can be used while wearing gloves has been developed by Google and technology volunteers for use by health workers in Sierra Leone.

MSFStaff testing one of the Clinical Management Tablets at the Magburaka treatment centre in Sierra Leone Photo: MSF

The Android device, based in a waterproof Sony Xperia with an extra protective casing, allows medics to safely record and share patient temperatures and symptoms over days and weeks....

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Video - Congressional Forum - “Building Resilient Communities: Ebola and Global Health Crises – Where We Need to Go”

Fri, 2015-03-20 22:01 — Kathy Gilbeaux

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KljU5Fx09y8

University of Missouri - youtube

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Congressional Forum - “Building Resilient Communities: Ebola and Global Health Crises – Where We Need to Go”

Fri, 2015-03-20 22:00 — Kathy Gilbeaux

Dr. David Nabarro - Congressional Forum

upmchealthsecurity.org

CLICK HERE -Agenda

CLICK HERE -Photos

CLICK HERE - Videos

On February 25, 2015 a Congressional Forum was convened.

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Ebola Outbreak in West Africa: Lessons Learned from Quarantine

Fri, 2015-03-20 21:09 — mike kraft

THE ASSESSMENT CAPACITIES PROJECT (ACAPS) March 19, 2015

Ebola Outbreak in West Africa: Lessons Learned from Quarantine--Sierra Leone and Liberia (acaps) The use of quarantine in West Africa is debated by various stakeholders. Some INGOs have argued that quarantine can fuel panic and counterproductive behaviour. Others have defended quarantine as a vital complementary tool to prevent the spread of infection and facilitate contact tracing....

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http://acaps.org/img/documents/t-acaps_thematic_note_ebola_west_africa_quarantine_sierra_leone_liberia_19_march_2015.pdf

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