More than 200 people have died from Ebola in Guinea, and reported cases of the virus have continued to rise: there have been over 300 reported cases in Guinea alone, and it seems the deadly virus may be spreading across borders. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that cases have begun to crop up in neighboring countries Liberia and Sierra Leone.
This is the first outbreak of the disease in West Africa since the discovery of the virus in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. The government of Guinea has claimed that the virus' spread has been slowing of late, though recent statistics released by the WHO refute that claim.
Ebola is one of the deadliest diseases in the world, and there is no known cure. It is spread through contact with the blood or bodily fluids of a carrier of the virus, and can even be spread sexually. Typically, pigs and monkeys are the most common carriers and the most likely to infect humans, as they are consumed as delicacies. Fruit bats may also act as carriers, though they show no signs of having the disease.
Symptoms of the disease start 2 days to 3 weeks after contracting it. Typically, these include fever, throat, joint and muscle pains, and headaches. The next stage includes nausea and vomiting, along with diarrhea and decreased functionality of the liver and kidneys. There may be external bleeding depending on the patient, though death is typically induced by organ dysfunction.
Mortality rates for Ebola range up to 90%. Travelers to Guinea should be wary; the Canadian government has issued a warning to its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to the country. While infected areas are cordoned off to the highest degree, all should still be on alert and maintain caution while traveling through Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
