Ebola | Infos, News und Hintergründe

[Birgitt]

Hallo Schu,

es sind wohl die Fledermäuse - Fruit Bats

http://www.scienzz.de/ticker/art5250.html

Gruß
Birgitt

[schu achbar ?]

Aber merkwürdig, dass man keine lebenden Tiere findet, die den Virus tragen. Fledermausfang-Aktionen gabs u. gibts ja einige.
Das Virus "handelt" wie eine Guerilla.
Kurzer Angriff und wieder im Nichts verschwunden...

[schu achbar ?]

Ok. Das ist ein toller Link.
Wusste ich noch nicht.
Komisch, dass man diesen Erfolg nicht so dolle publiziert hat.
Vielleicht hab ich aber auch einfach nur gepennt.
Fruit Bats sind übrigens beeindruckend gross...

[Birgitt]

Hallo Schu,

Fruit Bats sind übrigens beeindruckend gross...

stimmt, besonders wenn man direkt unter einer Riesen-Kolonie steht!
Ihre Spannweite ist enorm - ebenso ihr Geräuschpegel

Ich habe mich im Dezember 2006 auf unserer Reise durch den Kongo einige Tage etwas intensiver mit dem Thema Ebola beschäftigt und sehr viel dazugelernt. Manchmal gibt es total witzige Zufälle im Leben - ich saß in Brazzaville im Internet-Café neben einer spanischen Dame. Wir beide haben unsere emails gecheckt und dies und das erledigt ...

Ich dies

http://wuestenschiff.de/phpbb/viewtopic ... russ+kongo

Und sie das

http://www.innovations-report.de/html/b ... 75639.html


Anschließend haben wir noch etwas gequatscht, wie das halt so ist, wenn zwei Europäerinnen sich im Kongo treffen dann ging jede ihres Weges. Ich hatte keine Ahnung, wer sie war und dachte, dass sie vielleicht irgendwo in Brazza bei einer NGO arbeitet.

Einige Zeit später erreichten wir nach übelsten Pisten den Norden Kongos, Mbomo, direkt am Rand des Odzala NP gelegen. Dort entdeckten wir eine Forschungsstation mit Wissenschaftlern der Universität Barcelona - und just die nette Dame aus dem Internet-Café öffnete mir die Türe in einem winzigen Dorf mitten im Nichts! Es war Magdalena Bermejo, die mit ihrem Team dort Forschungsarbeiten betreibt. Wir sind einige Tage bei ihnen geblieben - es war einfach zu spannend!


Hinweisschilder auf dem Weg nach Mbomo, mehr dazu: Ebola-Ausbruch tötet 5.000 Gorillas

Gruß
Birgitt

[Birgitt]

EBOLA AND MARBURG HEMORRHAGIC FEVER, EGYPTIAN FRUIT BAT - WEST AFRICA
*********************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Fri 2 Oct 2009
Source: Bloomberg.com [edited]
<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... DY59ymDHII>


Virus Hunters Find Ebola, Marburg Source in Fruit Bat
-----------------------------------------------------
Scientists are closing in on the source of Ebola and Marburg
[hemorrhagic fevers], 2 of the world's most-lethal infectious
diseases. After a 5-year search in the jungles of Africa, an
international team of virus hunters has identified a fruit bat that
may be the natural host for both hemorrhage-causing diseases. Also,
these viruses are more widespread than previously thought, according
to their research, which will be published via an open-access BioMed
Central journal.

The study, based on blood tests on more than 2000 bats in Gabon and
the Republic of Congo, will help scientists solve a mystery that has
confounded them for more than 30 years: which species harbor Ebola
and Marburg [viruses] without getting sick. The answer may explain
how the viruses persist in the environment and point to ways humans
can avoid a disease that causes fatal bleeding and organ failure in
at least half of cases.

"Very eminent scientists have been searching for decades to find the
source," said John Mackenzie, a Melbourne-based virologist who
assists the World Health Organization in its response to outbreaks.
"Until you know what it is, you can't piece together the epidemiology
or begin to think about managing the risks to both humans and wildlife."

Marburg hemorrhagic fever was recognized in 1967, when outbreaks
occurred in laboratories in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and in
the Serbian [Yugoslavian] capital, Belgrade. Cases were traced to
African green monkeys imported for research and polio vaccine
production. Then, 9 years later, a closely related virus was found to
have sparked a deadly outbreak near the Ebola River in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire.

Disease trackers have tested everything from snakes to guinea pigs in
the search for an animal reservoir and have been repeatedly led back
to caves, mines and bats. A 2005 study published in the journal
Nature found evidence of symptomless ebolavirus infection in 3
species of fruit bat in West Africa, indicating that these animals
may be the ones silently harboring the virus. In March [2009],
scientists reported the 1st evidence directly connecting a human
Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreak to the putative fruit bat reservoir.

The study reported this week is the 1st to show that ebolavirus and
marburgvirus are circulating simultaneously in bat populations in one
country. While several human Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreaks have
occurred in Gabon, no cases of Marburg hemorrhagic fever have been
reported there, the authors said. The presence of marburgvirus in the
West African nation represents a "potential and previously
unrecognized threat to humans," they said.

"These findings provide much stronger evidence for a reservoir in
bats," Xavier Pourrut, a virologist at Gabon's International Center
for Medical Research in Franceville and the study's lead author, said
in a telephone interview. "The next step is to understand how the
viruses circulate in bat populations over time." Pourrut and
collaborators from the Special Pathogens Branch of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and France's Institute for
Development Research looked for evidence of previous ebolavirus and
marburgvirus infection in the blood samples of 2147 bats from at
least 9 species. Tests were conducted from 2003 to 2008 in 3 regions
of Gabon and in the Ebola epidemic region of north Congo.

Of all the bats sampled in significant numbers, only specimens of the
cave-roosting Egyptian fruit bat, or _Rousettus aegyptiacus_, were
found to harbor antibodies against both ebolavirus and marburgvirus,
the authors wrote, "suggesting that this species may be a natural
host of both viruses." The Egyptian rousette, with a doglike face and
ears, is found along the Nile River in Egypt, across Sub-Saharan
Africa, eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. While some groups
may occasionally roost outside in trees, the bats of this species
prefer to inhabit caves, mines and tombs, and feast on fruit trees at
night. These preferences give it a stronger link with the circulation
of ebolavirus and marburgvirus more frequently found in rain forests,
said Pierre Formenty, leader of the emerging and dangerous pathogens
team at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva.

Formenty was among 29 authors of a study published in July [2009]
that showed Marburg virus could be isolated from seemingly healthy
Egyptian fruit bats caught in Uganda's Kitaka Cave, where miners
infected with the virus in 2007 had worked. While some outbreaks in
humans have been directly linked to contact with bats, more evidence
exists to link cases with infected apes, chimpanzees and other
primates that are often consumed in Central Africa. These animals, in
turn, probably got the virus by eating fruit contaminated with saliva
or other bodily fluids from bats, according to Pourrut.

Once a human is infected, there is no cure for ebolavirus or
marburgvirus infection. After an incubation period of about a week,
victims rapidly develop high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, respiratory
disorders and hemorrhaging. Death can ensue within a few days. About
a quarter of Marburg hemorrhagic fever cases are fatal, whereas case
fatality rates range from 50 to 80 percent with Ebola hemorrhagic
fever in Africa.

Ebolavirus may circulate naturally within at least one other bat
species and spread to members of the Egyptian rousette via contact
with infected saliva left on fruit remnants, Formenty said in an
interview. Also, no link with the Egyptian fruit bat was found with
at least 3 Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreaks, he said. "We've got a
whole lot of clues on the crossword puzzle and we're just filling the
blanks now," said Bob Swanepoel, a virologist at South Africa's
National Institute for Communicable Diseases in Johannesburg, who 1st
sought to unravel the history of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in the
mid-1970s. Scientists will complete the task within a decade, he said.

[Byline: Jason Gale]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall.

[This report describes evidence linking for the 1st time both the
Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers with viruses present in fruit
bats, and one bat in particular -- the Egyptian fruit bat, _Rousettus
aegyptiacus_. (An image of an Egyptian fruit bat can be viewed via
the above URL for the news agency article.) The evidence for virus
infection of these bats is based on serological analysis and it is
unclear from this report whether infectious virus has been isolate
from these animals. Publication of the data is awaited with interest.
It is suggested that direct transmission of ebolavirus and
marburgvirus to humans from these bats may be rare and that humans
are more likely to be exposed to infection through contact with
infected primates, hunted as a source of food.
- Mod.CP]

[The interactive HealthMap/ProMED map for Africa is available at:
<http://healthmap.org/r/0035>
- CopyEd.EJP]

[Birgitt]

ZAIRE EBOLAVIRUS - GABON: SEROPREVALENCE
****************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Tue 9 Feb 2010
Source: PLoS (Public Library of Science) ONE [edited]
<http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Ad ... ne.0009126>


[Reference: Becquart P, Wauquier N, Mahlakoiv T, et al: High
prevalence of both humoral and cellular immunity to Zaire ebolavirus
among rural populations in Gabon. PLoS ONE 5(2): e9126.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0009126]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[The authors are located at the Emerging Viral Diseases Unit,
International Centre of Medical Research, Franceville, Gabon; UMR190
Emergence of Viral Pathologies, Aix-Marseille II University &
Research Institute for Development, Marseille, France; and Mahidol
University at Salaya, Nakhonpathon, Thailand]

Abstract
--------
To better understand Zaire ebolavirus circulation and transmission to
humans, we conducted a large serological survey of rural populations
in Gabon, a country characterized by both epidemic and non epidemic
regions. The survey lasted 3 years and covered 4349 individuals from
220 randomly selected villages, representing 10.7 percent of all
villages in Gabon. Using a sensitive and specific ELISA method, we
found a Zaire ebolavirus-specific IgG seroprevalence of 15.3 percent
overall, the highest ever reported. The seroprevalence rate was
significantly higher in forested areas (19.4 percent) than in other
ecosystems, namely grassland (12.4 percent), savannah (10.5 percent),
and lakeland (2.7 percent). No other risk factors for seropositivity
were found. The specificity of anti-Zaire ebolavirus IgG was
confirmed by Western blot in 138 individuals, and CD8 T cells from 7
IgG+ individuals were shown to produce IFN-gamma after Zaire
ebolavirus stimulation.

Together, these findings show that a large fraction of the human
population living in forested areas of Gabon has both humoral and
cellular immunity to Zaire ebolavirus. In the absence of identified
risk factors, the high prevalence of "immune" persons suggests a
common source of human exposure such as fruits contaminated by bat
saliva. These findings provide significant new insights into Zaire
ebolavirus circulation and human exposure, and raise important
questions as to the human pathogenicity of Zaire ebolavirus and the
existence of natural protective immunization.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[The following extract from this paper provides the background to
this study and puts the data in perspective. Interested readers
should consult the full text and references via the URL at top of this report.

"Zaire ebolavirus is the most pathogenic ebolavirus species, with
reported case fatality rates of up to 90 percent. Zaire ebolavirus
has caused several outbreaks in Central Africa, Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo (RC), and Gabon. North-east Gabon
experienced 4 outbreaks between 1994 and 2002, with a total of 259
confirmed human cases and only 79 survivors (case fatality rate: 69 percent)."

"Recently, significant advances have been made in our understanding
of filovirus ecology. Antibodies and nucleotide sequences specific
for Zaire ebolavirus have been detected in the liver and spleen of 3
fruit bat species in Gabon and RC (_Hypsignathus monstrosus_,
_Epomops franquetti_, and _Myonycteris torquata_), and antibodies and
nucleotide sequences specific for Marburg virus have been found in a
fruit bat species in Gabon (_Rousettus aegyptiacus_) and in 2
insectivorous bat species in DRC (_Rhinolophus eloquens_ and
_Miniopterus inflatus_). More recently, this virus was isolated for
the 1st time in cave-dwelling _Rousettus aegyptiacus_ in Uganda.
Together, these findings raise the possibility that these bats might
be a filovirus reservoir, but the mechanism of primary Zaire
ebolavirus transmission to humans, potentially leading to outbreaks,
remains unclear. Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreaks that occurred in
Gabon and RC between 2001 and 2003 were also associated with major
outbreaks among wild-living large mammals (especially chimpanzees and
gorillas), devastating local animal populations. The primary human
cases involved hunters who became infected after handling animal
carcasses found in the forest. Similarly, the 1996 Mayibout outbreak
in Gabon started among children who handled a chimpanzee carcass. A
recent study showed that the 2007 Luebo outbreak in DRC was linked to
massive fruit bat migration, strongly suggesting for the 1st time
that humans could be infected directly by bats."

"It is generally accepted that Zaire ebolavirus is associated with a
case fatality rate of about 90 percent, but this may be an
overestimate. For example, 7 cases of asymptomatic infection were
identified during the 1996 Booue outbreak in Gabon, and some
ELISA-based serosurveys have shown high antibody prevalence rates
among populations living in areas where no case of Ebola hemorrhagic
fever has ever been reported, suggesting that Zaire ebolavirus might
also be capable of causing mild illness or even asymptomatic
infection in humans. The IgG seroprevalence was 9.3 percent in
villages located in the 1995 outbreak area around Kikwit, DRC, where
no Ebola haemorrhagic fever cases were reported. Likewise, a
seroprevalence of 13.2 percent was found in the Aka Pygmy population
of Central African Republic, where no Zaire ebolavirus outbreaks have
ever been reported."

"The source and significance of anti-Zaire ebolavirus IgG
seropositivity among people who have never had clinical signs of
haemorrhagic fever or who live in non epidemic areas are both
unclear, but they may have major implications for our understanding
of the epidemiology of Zaire ebolavirus primary transmission to
humans and outbreaks."

"This study provides important insights into Zaire ebolavirus
circulation, human exposure and pathogenicity, and outbreak
occurrence. The high frequency of 'immune' individuals with no
disease or outbreak history raises questions as to the real
pathogenicity of Zaire ebolavirus for humans in 'natural' conditions.
Added to the lack of identifiable risk factors, this points to bats
as the main source of human exposure, through handling and ingestion
of contaminated fruits. Past outbreaks in which no animal source was
identified may have been due to fruit bat activity close to the
villages concerned. Rural populations living in forested regions of
the central African forest block thus appear to be highly exposed to
the virus. More and more viruses are being detected in bats, some of
which are known to be pathogenic for humans."

The authors' conclusion that transmission of infection via fruit
contaminated by bat saliva has also been suggested as a route of
disease transmission in the case of Nipah virus infection in Asia
(such as, ProMED-mail post -- Nipah virus, fatal - Bangladesh: (FR)
20100122.0250).

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Gabon can be accessed at
<http://healthmap.org/r/0082>. - Mod.CP]

[Birgitt]

EBOLAVIRUS, BATS - SPAIN: (ASTURIAS) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sun 2 May 2010
Source: RTVCYL (Radio Television Castilla and Leon) [trans. Mod.MPP, edited]
<http://www.rtvcyl.es/fichaNoticia.cfm/N ... F9780E2B11>


The ebola virus found in the remains of dead bats in Asturias most
likely belongs to a species [of ebolavirus] harmless to humans,
according to Francisco Llinares, Professor of Microbiology at the
University of San Pablo CEU. The professor referred to this case
during the lecture "Filoviridae: Ebola and Marburg," within the
framework of the IV Conference of Microbiology and Public Health at
the San Pablo University CEU, this year [2010] entitled "The coming Virus."

However, he said that "only the results of the laboratory analysis
will determine exactly what type of ebolavirus we found." Llinares
believes this is surely a case of a "new type" [of ebolavirus], i.e.
not as yet documented. In fact, he recalled scientific reports that,
years ago, unexplained deaths of bats had been observed in Asturias.
Only when by chance a group of researchers came to check [on these
bat deaths] did they realize that an ebolavirus was the cause of the mortality.

The above mentioned [laboratory] analysis to distinguish the type of
virus [responsible for the bat die-off] was carried out in France in
a P4 safety level lab, and [Llinares] stated that "Spain cannot
handle this type of virus, because the highest level of laboratory
safety in Spain is P3," he said.

Throughout his speech, Llinares also referred to the [apparent]
evolution of viruses in recent outbreaks that have been documented.
On this point, he expressed concern about the fact that in the recent
cases of [ebolavirus] infection in Uganda and the Congo, the
incubation period has been double what was previously measured. The
previously seen maximum incubation period of 21 days had changed to
42 days, a circumstance that "lengthens the time of possible
infection," and therefore "can help to [further disseminate the virus]."

In spite of the risk and the mortality that the virus carries,
Llinares said that "Ebolavirus is not the new rider of the
Apocalypse." As he noted, "outbreaks have occurred in a very specific
zone -- Equatorial Africa -- which is also very heavily under
surveillance by the World Health Organization."

With regard to possible antidotes, what science can say now is that
"there is no treatment or vaccine." On this point, he reviewed the
research to produce a vaccine that induces the production of
antibodies against the ebolavirus glycoprotein, a protein that the
[ebolavirus] uses to bind to the receptor cell membranes. He also
mentioned the recent discovery that a high percentage of the
population of Gabon has developed antibodies to [ebolavirus] without
having previously developed hemorrhagic fever.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

[The RNA negative strand viruses belonging to the family
_Filoviridae_ are classified into 2 genera, one of which is
designated the genus _Marburgvirus_ and the other the genus
_Ebolavirus_. The basis for assigning the Asturias bat viruses
described above to the genus _Ebolavirus_ is unclear. Filoviruses
viruses exhibit a characteristic bacilliform morphology, which may be
the basis for the identification of these viruses rather than the
immunological and genetic characterisation necessary to place them in
the genus _Ebolavirus_.

Not all ebolaviruses are pathogenic for humans, which might explain
the cryptic presence of such viruses in Spain. Cote d'Ivoire
ebolavirus, for example, has been associated with only one case of
human disease, and the Reston ebolaviruses, although pathogenic for
cynomolgous monkeys and swine, are apathogenic in humans. Further
information on the characterisation and distribution of the Asturias
bat filoviruses would be welcomed.

Filoviruses have been frequently isolated from bats, and some species
have been implicated in the transmission of hemorrhagic disease to
humans. Information on the species classification and biology of the
virus-infected bats in Asturias would be welcomed also.

The province of Asturias in the north of Spain can be located (at O)
in the clickable map of Spain at:
<http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/es%28prov.html>. The
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Spain can be accessed at:
<http://healthmap.org/r/01eT>. - Mod.CP]
................................................mpp/cp/msp/mpp

[Birgitt]

EBOLAVIRUS BATS - SPAIN (02): (ASTURIAS), CLARIFICATION
*******************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: 4 May 2010
From: Antonio Tenorio <atenorio@isciii.es> [edited]


re: Ebolavirus, bats - Spain: (AS) RFI 20100502.1428
----------------------------------------------------
A novel filovirus has been detected in bats in the Iberian Peninsula. A
full length genome sequence has been obtained in a collaboration between
the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the Center for Infection and Immunity
at Columbia University. Preliminary phylogenetic analysis indicates that
this virus is taxonomically distinct from ebolavirus and Lake Victoria
marburgvirus. There is no evidence that this virus has infected humans.

Antonio Tenorio
Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Madrid, Spain

W Ian Lipkin
Center for Infection and Immunity
Columbia University, New York, USA

--
Antonio Tenorio, PhD
Arbovirus y Enfermedades Viricas Importadas
National Centre for Microbiology
Instituto de Salud Carlos III
28220 Majadahonda (Madrid)
Spain
<atenorio@isciii.es>

[ProMED-mail is indebted to Antonio Tenorio for providing the above
information clarifying the status of the filovirus isolated from bats in
the north of Spain.

Currently, the family _Filoviridae_ consists of 2 distinct genera
_Ebolavirus_ and _Marburgvirus_ (Virus Taxonomy, 8th Report of the ICTV,
Elsevier, 2005), embracing viruses predominately associated with outbreaks
of haemorrhagic disease in the African continent. It is likely that this
novel virus found in bats in the north of Spain, and as yet not associated
with disease in humans, may have to be ranked by the International
Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) as a novel genus in the family
_Filoviridae_. Further characterization of the properties and host range of
this novel bat virus is awaited with great interest by the virology community.

The province of Asturias in the north of Spain can be located (at O) in the
clickable map of Spain at
<http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/es%28prov.html>. The
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Spain can be accessed at
<http://healthmap.org/r/01eT>. - Mod.CP]

[Stefanie]

National Geographics berichtet, dass ein Mittel bereits bei Affen erfolgreich getestet wurde...Hoffnung?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... b06092010b

[Birgitt]

Das zwar seltene, aber schlagzeilenträchtige und tödliche Ebolavirus konnten Forscher des US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases bei Affen unschädlich machen. Um das Kernstück des Virus, die RNA, außer Gefecht zu setzten, benutzten die Forscher so genannte Morpholinos (antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer). Rhesusaffen, die diese 30 bis 60 Minuten nach einer Ebolainfektion gespritzt bekamen, hatten eine 60 Prozent höhere Überlebenschance ...

Ebola nach der Infektion behandeln
23.08.2010 - spektrum

Gruß
Birgitt

[Birgitt]

Gleich zwei Forscherteams haben jetzt wichtige Durchbrüche im Kampf gegen das tödliche Ebola-Virus erzielt. Sie fanden heraus, welches körpereigene Protein dem Virus beim Eindringen in die menschlichen Zellen hilft. Und es gelang ihnen, diese Eintrittspforte mit einem Wirkstoff zu blockieren. Wie die Wissenschaftler im Fachmagazin „Nature“ berichten, eröffne dies erstmals die Chance, ein Heilmittel gegen die tödliche und bisher nicht behandelbare Infektionskrankheit zu entwickeln ...

Molekül macht immun gegen Ebola
26.08.2011 - scinexx

Gruß
Birgitt

[Birgitt]

SOUTH SUDAN: Preparing for Ebola - or not
02.08.2012 - IRIN

JUBA - South Sudan is worried about the spread of Ebola, an incurable diseases which has killed over a dozen people in neighbouring Uganda [ http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96010/UG ... mbers-rise ] over the past few days.

"The Ministry of Health of the Republic of South Sudan in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) would like to caution the general public to be vigilant following reports of an Ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreak in the Kibaale area of mid-western Uganda," a government/WHO statement said this week.

A 2005 peace deal in Sudan opened up borders for aid and trade and Uganda has become South Sudan's largest supplier. "South Sudan and Uganda share a lot in terms of population movements and trade. As a result people move from one place to other [and are] likely to cause importation of the disease into the two countries once the other is affected", the joint statement said.

Several buses ply the Juba-Kampala route daily, and there are also two flights a day from Entebbe to Juba,

"We suspect [Ebola would strike] first in the border areas, as that is where people are coming and going," said Kajamsuk Moi, CEO of the country's leading but run-down hospital in Juba.

"WHO are not worrying a lot but we've already taken some emergency measures where we've activated the national task force and enhanced surveillance of the border areas with Uganda", said Abdinasir Mohamed Abubakar, WHO South Sudan's head of communicable diseases.

It is also educating communities near the border on Ebola risks and signs of infection, as well as training health workers to be able to identify and treat it.

The Health Ministry has called for "more vigilance" from all health workers who are "requested to wear personal protective gear at all times of examining patients presenting at a health facility".

However, the country faces severe socioeconomic, health, educational and infrastructural challenges: 98 percent of its revenue was lost after the shutdown of oil production in January; there are only 100km of paved roads in a country bigger than France; illiteracy is widespread; and ethnic tensions continue to simmer in Jonglei State - to mention just a few of the factors hampering effective implementation of anti-Ebola measures.

The UN Development Agency (UNDP) said in July, as South Sudan celebrated its first birthday, [ http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95826/Br ... dependence ] that hospitals outside the capital had started to run out of drugs. Other donors say the government has stopped buying basics, leading to chronic shortages of medicines nationwide.

Misplaced optimism?

Despite this, Moi said he was sure that if Ebola struck, the government would rush in supplies somehow.

"If it hits, we are already prepared. South Sudan's health system is not as strong as Uganda's but I think we have the tools and the means to prevent and contain an outbreak", said Abubakar.

Moi said premises previously used for cholera cases existed for up to 30 people if Ebola strikes the capital.

"We in the hospital, we are ready. We have the quarantine so if there is any such disease we will admit them to isolation. We can take more than 20, maybe 30, into isolation", he said.

Moi said Juba Hospital is not yet on high alert. "It is still early for us and it was only yesterday that the Ministry of Health talked about this [Ebola] so in the coming days people will be alert, but we never saw one patient with this yet," he said.

No vaccine has been found for the highly infectious disease, which WHO says has a fatality ratio of 23-90 percent. Transmitted through touch, fluids and waste from a living or dead person, it causes fever which can lead to bleeding from orifices and death within days.

Quelle: IRIN

Gruß
Birgitt

[Birgitt]

Wissenschaftler, die sich mit dem tödlichen Ebola-Virus befassen, haben gegenüber der BBC erklärt, dass möglicherweise niemals ein kommerzieller Impfstoff zur Vorbeugung einer Infektion entwickelt werden wird. Zwei Unternehmen mit vielversprechenden Impfstoffkandidaten mussten in den letzten Wochen eine Aussetzung ihrer Finanzmittel durch das Pentagon hinnehmen. Ein Experte erklärte, es sei nun „unwahrscheinlich“, dass jemals ein prophylaktischer Impfstoff zur Verhinderung von Krankheitsausbrüchen zum Einsatz kommen werde. Ebola wird oft als die furchterregendste Krankheit der Welt bezeichnet ... Übersetzt mit DeepL.com (kostenlose Version) ,,,

Commercial ebola vaccine 'unlikely' say researchers
15.08.2012 - BBC

Gruß
Birgitt

[Birgitt]

Kanadische Wissenschaftler haben nachgewiesen, dass die tödlichste Form des Ebola-Virus über die Luft zwischen verschiedenen Tierarten übertragen werden könnte. In Experimenten zeigten sie, dass das Virus von Schweinen auf Affen übertragen wurde, ohne dass ein direkter Kontakt zwischen ihnen stattfand ...

Growing concerns over 'in the air' transmission of Ebola
16.11.2012 - BBC

Transmission of Ebola virus from pigs to non-human primates.pdf

SCIENTIFIC REPORTS | 2 : 811 | DOI: 10.1038/srep00811

(358.64 KiB) 42-mal heruntergeladen

Transmission of Ebola virus from pigs to non-human primates - Supplementary Information.pdf

(388.38 KiB) 33-mal heruntergeladen

Gruß
Birgitt

[AnnArbor]

Passend dazu heute ein Artikel in sueddeutsche.de

Ebolaviren können auch übertragen werden, ohne das die Betroffenen einander berühren. So haben Schweine im Labor Affen im Nachbarkäfig mit den Erregern infiziert. Wissenschaftler spekulieren nun darüber, ob die Übertragung auf dem Luftweg auch unter Menschen in Afrika eine Rolle spielen könnte...

Der ganze Artikel hier: Ebola durch die Luft übertragen

Viele Grüße - AnnArbor