Ebola out of control in West Africa continues to make headlines as death toll reaches 330, the highest since Ebola outbreak in 1976 with 280 deaths. Ebola out of control in West Africa becomes more and more apparent with medics saying that the 'Ebola virus is totally out of control' and they are losing the fight against the disease. According to a senior medic, doctors are now stretched to their limits attempting to control the situation and stop Ebola out of control.
Before the situation of Ebola out of control, the virus began spreading in the heavily populated areas of Guinea and Liberia.
The disease causes high fevers, vomiting, diarrhea and more often than not death to those contracting it. According to the latest numbers from the World Health Organization, the latest epidemic has been linked to the deaths of not more than 330 people in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
According to a health official on Friday, the Ebola outbreak currently spreading across West Africa is 'totally out of control.'
Bart Janssens, the director of operations for the group Doctors Without Borders in Brussels first came out with Ebola out of control situation. He told the Associated Press, 'The reality is clear that the epidemic is now in a second wave. And, for me, it is totally out of control. It's the first time in an Ebola epidemic where [Doctors Without Borders] teams cannot cover all the needs, at least for treatment centers.'
According to TIME, the current Ebola out of control outbreak has already caused more deaths than any other on record. Janssens also said on Friday that International organizations and the governments involved must send in more health experts and increase public education messages about stopping the disease from spreading.
In his statement with regard to Ebola out of control, Janssens also criticized the World Health Organization for not giving enough effort to prod leaders. He said that the WHO needs to bring in more experts to do the essential process of tracing all those who come in contact with the sick.
According to the Daily Mail, Unni Krishnan, head of disaster preparedness and response for Plan International also said on Friday that the outbreak is portraying no signs of deterioration and that governments and international organizations were 'far from winning this battle.'
Despite this portrayal from Krishnan, Ebola out of control as descrived by Janssens seems more alarming as he has warned governments affected may not recognize up to now the gravity of the situation.
Janssens also told AP, I'm absolutely convinced that this epidemic is far from over and will continue to kill a considerable amount of people, so this will definitely end up the biggest ever. There needs to be a real political commitment that this is a very big emergency.' He added, 'Otherwise, it will continue to spread, and for sure it will spread to more countries.'
Janssens detailed Ebola out of control needs a more effective response because even as there are already more than 40 international staff on ground and four treatment centers set up, Doctors Without Borders has reportedly reached its limit to respond to Ebola out of control situation.
Janssens said, 'It's the first time in an Ebola epidemic where (Doctors Without Borders) teams cannot cover all the needs, at least for treatment centers.' An example he gave is on setting up a treatment center in Liberia, the group might not be able to set up the same facilities as the ones currently running in Guinea and Sierra Leone.
According to the AP as told by Janssens, Ebola out of control might be harder to contain as their group reportedly don't have any more experienced staff to call on. Some has even reportedly gone through three tours on the ground.
Janssens added that what makes more challenging the Ebola out of control situation is that the epidemic began in an area with people being highly mobile. This resulted in the disease spreading to even more densely populated areas, such as the capitals of Guinea and Liberia. He said that the disease normally affects areas which are sparsely populated such as central or eastern Africa.
He said that the only way to stop the Ebola out of control situation is to convince people in affected areas to come forward as soon as symptoms show and refrain touching the sick and dead.
Janssens said, 'There is still not a real change of behavior of the people. So a lot of sick people still remain in hiding or continue to travel. And there is still news that burial practices are remaining dangerous.'
According to AP, before the outbreak became Ebola out of control, it began in Guinea either late last year or early this year. The outbreak had reportedly showed signs of slowing however it picked up pace again in recent weeks, which eventually spread to the Liberian capital for the first time.
Armand Sprecher, a public health specialist with Doctors Without Borders said, 'This is the highest outbreak on record and has the highest number of deaths, so this is unprecedented so far.'
According to a list from the World Health Organization, the former highest death toll in Ebola cases was recorded in 1976 in Congo where 280 deaths were reported.
Another reason for Ebola out of control is that the disease reportedly occur most in remote areas and first cases sometimes go by unrecognized. It is even possible that other deaths have been unrecognized as caused by Ebola, both in this outbreak and previous ones.
The governments international agencies involved in containing Ebola out of control situation are reportedly struggling, said Krishnan of Plan. He said in an emailed statement, 'The affected countries are at the bottom of the human development index. Ebola is seriously crippling their capacities to respond effectively in containing the spread.'
Meanwhile, in order to contain Ebola out of control situation, Tolbert Nyenswah, Liberia's deputy minister of health, said that people in the highest levels of government are already containing the situation as can be proven through a long period with no reported new cases before this second wave.
Ebola out of control situation certainly need efforts from all agencies and governments capable of help in order to be stopped. The World Health Organization did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
