How deadly Ebola has spread across the globe: Health officials try to trace 30,000 linked to death of US victim - as Nigerian film star sparks outrage by fleeing Africa first-class in an Ebola mask
- In boiling hot suits with silent death lurking everywhere and the fear that a mistake could be fatal: Doctors give a gripping insight into their battle in the crucible of the biggest Ebola outbreak in history
- From the symptoms of a common cold to bleeding out the ears and eyes: What happens when you are infected with the Ebola virus?
Fears of a global Ebola pandemic are 'justified' an expert has
said after a U.S. citizen boarded a flight in Liberia carrying the
disease to Nigeria, potentially infecting 'anyone on the same plane'.
Nigerian health officials are in the process of trying to trace 30,000
people, believed to be at risk of contracting the highly-infectious
virus, following the death of Patrick Sawyer in Lagos on Friday. It
comes as Nigerian actor Jim Iyke, right, sparked outrage, posting a
picture of himself wearing an Ebola mask while sitting in a first class
airport lounge as he fled Liberia. The death toll for this, the worst
outbreak recorded, since the Ebola virus was discovered in 1976, stands
at 672, while more than 1,200 people have been infected, centre. The
disease has swept through Western Africa, left, having first been
detected in Guinea in February. Since then victims have succumbed to the
incurable illness, which starts with flu-like symptoms before evolving
to cause catastrophic internal bleeding, in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Meanwhile two suspected patients in the UK have also tested negative.
But the panic sparked by Mr Sawyer's death is 'justified' says Dr Derek Gatherer of the University of Lancaster, claiming the virus is as infectious as flu.
He warned each person infected with the disease could spread the virus to at least two other people.
'Anyone on the same plane could have become infected because Ebola is easy to catch,' he said.
'It can be passed on through vomiting, diarrhoea or even from simply saliva or sweat - as well as being sexually transmitted.
'That is why there is such alarm over Mr Sawyer because he became ill on the flight so anyone else sharing the plane could have been infected by his vomit or other bodily fluids.'
The petition, created on change.org, states: 'One of the most promising is TKM-Ebola manufactured by Tekmira Pharmaceuticals.
'This drug has been shown to be highly effective in killing the virus in primates and Phase 1 clinical trials to assess its safety in humans were started earlier this year.'
In July the FDA put clinical trials on hold, despite the face 14 research participants had already safely tolerated the drug, campaigners said.
Those responsible for the petition added: 'Given that at least one patient has transferred the disease from Liberia to Nigeria by air travel, the possibility of a global pandemic becomes increasingly likely.
'In view of this it’s imperative that the development of these drugs be fast-tracked by the FDA and the first step should be releasing the hold on TKM-Ebola.
'There is a precedent for fast tracking anti-Ebola drugs in emergency cases as happened last year when a researcher was exposed to the virus and received an experimental vaccine.'
Mr Sawyer was put in isolation at the First Consultants Hospital in Obalende, one of the most crowded parts of the city, home to around 21 million people.
How deadly Ebola has spread across the globe: Health officials try to trace 30,000 linked to death of US victim - as Nigerian film star sparks outrage by fleeing Africa first-class in an Ebola mask
- Hong Kong woman quarantined when she fell ill after returning from Kenya
- Expert claims panic over death of U.S. man in Nigeria is 'justified'
- He warned the spread of Ebola could become a global pandemic
- Health campaigners petition U.S. drug authorities to fast-track potential cure
- Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond declares disease is 'very serious threat'
- He will chair an emergency meeting on how to boost defences
- British airlines are also on 'red alert' for cases of the deadly virus
- Man with 'feverish' symptoms tested for deadly Ebola at Birmingham hospital
- He had travelled into Midlands from Benin, Nigeria via France when he fell ill
- Charing Cross Hospital staff also feared man had Ebola symptoms this week
- No cases have been confirmed in UK but 672 people have died in West Africa
- Warning issued to GPs, A&E departments and all NHS trusts across the UK
- Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and damage to the nervous system
Fears
of a global Ebola pandemic are 'justified' an expert has said after a
U.S. citizen boarded a flight in Liberia carrying the disease to
Nigeria, potentially infecting 'anyone on the same plane'.
Nigerian
health officials are in the process of trying to trace 30,000 people,
believed to be at risk of contracting the highly-infectious virus,
following the death of Patrick Sawyer in Lagos.
It
comes as Nigerian actor Jim Iyke sparked outrage, posting a picture of
himself wearing an Ebola mask while sitting in a first class airport
lounge as he fled Liberia.
The 'Nollywood'
star posted a message on his Instagram page saying he had cut
short a business trip to Monrovia in Liberia - where at least 600
people have already died from the disease.
The
death toll for this, the worst outbreak recorded since the Ebola virus
was discovered in 1976, stands at 672, while more than 1,200 people have
been infected.
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The latest outbreak of Ebola is the most severe
since the disease was discovered in 1976. So far the disease has spread
from a village in Guinea to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria
Nigerian health officials are in the
process of trying to trace 30,000 people, believed to be at risk of
contracting the highly-infectious virus, following the death of Patrick
Sawyer in Lagos
Ebola (above) has already killed 672
people in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria and infected more
than 1,200 since it was first diagnosed in February. Symptoms include
sudden fever, vomiting and headaches
The disease has swept through Western Africa, having first been detected in Guinea in February.
Since
then victims have succumbed to the incurable illness, which starts with
flu-like symptoms before evolving to cause catastrophic internal
bleeding, in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
But
it was the death of a U.S. citizen in the Nigerian captial of Lagos on
Friday, that is prompted fears the disease could be on the brink of
spreading to the West, as experts warn it could be carried across
international borders by air travellers.
Mr Sawyer, a consultant for Liberia's Finance Ministry, died on Friday
after arriving at Lagos airport on June 20, having vomited and suffered
diarrhoea on two flights.
The 40-year-old U.S. citizen had been to the funeral of his sister, who also died from the disease.
A
woman quarantined at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong has
tested negative for the disease, despite returning from a trip to Kenya
with Ebola-like symptoms.Meanwhile two suspected patients in the UK have also tested negative.
But the panic sparked by Mr Sawyer's death is 'justified' says Dr Derek Gatherer of the University of Lancaster, claiming the virus is as infectious as flu.
He warned each person infected with the disease could spread the virus to at least two other people.
'Anyone on the same plane could have become infected because Ebola is easy to catch,' he said.
'It can be passed on through vomiting, diarrhoea or even from simply saliva or sweat - as well as being sexually transmitted.
'That is why there is such alarm over Mr Sawyer because he became ill on the flight so anyone else sharing the plane could have been infected by his vomit or other bodily fluids.'
It comes as health campaigners today called for
U.S. authorities to speed up their approval of a new drug hoped to be
the first cure for the deadly Ebola virus.
They are calling on the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States to fast-track their
authorisation of the TKM-Ebola drug.The petition, created on change.org, states: 'One of the most promising is TKM-Ebola manufactured by Tekmira Pharmaceuticals.
'This drug has been shown to be highly effective in killing the virus in primates and Phase 1 clinical trials to assess its safety in humans were started earlier this year.'
In July the FDA put clinical trials on hold, despite the face 14 research participants had already safely tolerated the drug, campaigners said.
'IT SCARES THE JESUS OUTTA ME': OUTRAGE AS NIGERIAN 'NOLLYWOOD' STAR POSTS PICTURE WEARING EBOLA MASK AS HE FLEES LIBERIA
A Nigerian actor has sparked outrage after posting an image of himself wearing an Ebola mask while sitting in a first class airport lounge as he flees Liberia.
'Nollywood'
star Jim Iyke posted a message on his Instagram page saying he had cut
short a business trip to Monrovia in Liberia - where at least 600
people have already died from the disease.
The
image of Iyke sitting on green leather-clad seats in the airport's
luxury first class lounge while wearing an expensive designer watch and
sunglasses was accompanied with the caption: 'Not ashamed to admit this
scares the Jesus outta me #Ebola.'
Nigerian actor Jim Iyke posted this picture on
his Instagram account, revealing he had cut short a business trip to
Liberia over fears the Ebola virus is spreading in the West African
country
The
contrast between Iyke's image of first class luxury is in stark contrast
to the thousands of terrified Liberians who are living in fear of
contracting the deadly disease.
However,
much of the anger about his image stemmed from fear among Nigerian
citizens that Iyke appeared to be travelling back to the country without
having been tested to see if he was infected.
Twitter user @Avariberry posted a message reading: 'Jim Iyke or Not... he gotta be screened. #TestJimIyke.'
Meanwhile @IcallDibbz_ said: 'Please ooo, James Ikechukwu, aka Jim Iyke, should be quarantined.'
Others picked up on the fact Iyke had an expensive face mask to protect himself, but was wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt.
Health campaigners have petitioned U.S.
authorities, calling for the Food and Drug Administration to fast-track
their approval of a new Ebola drug, which could be the first cure for
the disease
Those responsible for the petition added: 'Given that at least one patient has transferred the disease from Liberia to Nigeria by air travel, the possibility of a global pandemic becomes increasingly likely.
'In view of this it’s imperative that the development of these drugs be fast-tracked by the FDA and the first step should be releasing the hold on TKM-Ebola.
'There is a precedent for fast tracking anti-Ebola drugs in emergency cases as happened last year when a researcher was exposed to the virus and received an experimental vaccine.'
Mr Sawyer was put in isolation at the First Consultants Hospital in Obalende, one of the most crowded parts of the city, home to around 21 million people.
He took two flights to reach Lagos, from Monrovia to Lome and then onto the Nigerian capital.
So
far 59 people who came into contact with Mr Sawyer have been identified
by Nigerian health officials, and are under surveillance.
But health officials have said they are looking at contacting 30,000 people who could be at risk of contracting the disease.
Professor
Sunday Omilabu, from Lagos University Teaching Hospital, said health
officials are in the process of tracing all those people who are thought
to have been in contact with Mr Sawyer.
He said: 'We've been making contacts. We now have information about the (flight) manifest.
'We have information about who and who were around.
'So,
as I'm talking, our teams are in the facility, where they've trained
the staff, and then they (are) now asking questions about those that
were closely in contact with the patient.'
Public health adviser, Yewande Adeshina, added: 'We're actually looking at contacting over 30,000 people in this very scenario.
'Because any and everybody that has contacted this person is going to be treated as a suspect.'
U.S. citizen Patrick Sawyer, pictured with his
daughter Ava, died on Friday in the Nigerian capital of Lagos having
become infected with the Ebola virus. His death prompted fears of a
global pandemic after he flew from Liberia to Nigeria
Decontee Sawyer, the wife of Liberian government
official Patrick Sawyer, said she shudders to think how easily her
husband could have returned to the U.S. carrying the disease
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond today declared the disease a 'very
serious threat' to Britain as he prepares to chair an emergency meeting
on how to bolster the country's defences against the vicious virus.
British
airlines are on alert for cases of the deadly virus, after tests
revealed a man died in Nigeria from the disease, having been allowed to
board an international flight from Liberia.
A British man has also been tested for the Ebola virus, putting doctors on red alert that it could be on its way to the UK.
A
spokesman for Hong Kong's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said the Centre for
Health Protection (CHP) will be notified if it is confirmed the patient
is suffering from the Ebola virus.
In
Nigeria health officials said today, they are in the process of tracing
30,000 people at risk of contracting the disease after coming into
contact with a Liberian man who died on Friday.
Meanwhile, the British man was taken to hospital in Birmingham after complaining of feeling
‘feverish’ on a flight back to the Midlands from West Africa.
He had been travelling from Benin, Nigeria via Paris, France when he became unwell on Monday.
However,
after undergoing a number of tests he was given the all-clear for the
virus which has already killed 672 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra
Leone and infected more than 1,200 since it was first diagnosed in
February.
In
another scare, medical staff at Charing Cross Hospital in London became
concerned a man in his twenties had caught the virus this week.
But his symptoms were quickly confirmed as not being linked to the bug and doctors ruled out the need for an Ebola test.
Tragic: US citizen Patrick Sawyer (pictured with his wife Decontee) died after contracting Ebola in West Africa
Fears: Medical staff at Charing Cross
Hospital in London became concerned a man in his twenties had caught the
virus this week. However, his symptoms were later put down to another
bug and Ebola was ruled out
Fears over
the ability to contain the spread of Ebola were augmented last night as
it emerged the body of a young stowaway was found hidden in on a U.S.
military plane.
The
Pentagon said the young boy, believed to be of African origin, was
found near the wheel of a cargo plane which landed in Germany.
AIRLINES ON EBOLA RED ALERT
British airlines are on alert for cases of
the deadly virus, after tests revealed a man died in Nigeria from the
disease, having been allowed to board an international flight from
Liberia.
Patrick Sawyer, a
consultant for Liberia’s Finance Ministry, had been in Liberia for the
funeral of his sister, who also died from the disease, and was on his
way back to his home in the US.
The
40-year-old arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, on July 20 and had suffered from
vomiting and diarrhoea on two flights. He was put in isolation in
hospital and died on Friday.
Nigeria has closed the Lagos hospital where Mr Sawyer was treated and put its airports and ports on 'red alert'.
ASKY airlines, the carrier which flew Mr Sawyer, suspended flights to the capitals of Liberia and Sierra Leone yesterday.
In Britain, the Department of Transport said UK airlines are 'monitoring the situation'.
Virgin
Atlantic told the Daily Express their staff have been trained to spot
the signs and symptoms of the virulent disease, which has claimed the
lives of 672 people in West Africa since February.
The
plane was on a routine mission in Africa, and had made stops in
Senegal, Mali, Chad, Tunisia and the Naval Air Station Sigonella in
Sicily before arriving at Ramstein.
It
is thought the boy climbed aboard in Mali, which borders Guinea - where
the current Ebola outbreak originated at the end of last year.
It
comes as hospitals and medical centres across the UK remain on red
alert for the virus, with doctors being told to look out for symptoms of
the disease which can go unnoticed for three weeks and kills 90 per
cent of victims.
The Department of Health confirmed protections have been put in place to deal with the deadly bug, should it spread to Britain.
A
spokesman said: ‘We are well prepared to identity and deal with any
potential cases of Ebola, although there has never been a case in this
country.’
The
Government’s chief scientific advisor also issued a frank warning about
the disease, which he said could have a ‘major impact’ on the UK.
Sir
Mark Walport said: ‘The UK is fortunate in its geographical position.
We’re an island. But we are living in a completely interconnected world
where disruptions in countries far away will have major impacts.
‘The
most dangerous infections of humans have always been those which have
emerged from other species,’ he told the Daily Telegraph, referring to
the virus originating in fruit bats and monkeys.
He
said the Government was ‘keeping a close eye’ on the outbreak and was
prepared for the disease spreading to Britain, but insisted any risk was
‘very low’.
He added: ‘We have to think about risk and managing risk appropriately.’
Public Health England has added to fears about the spread of the virus by saying it was ‘clearly not under control’.
Virus: Symptoms of Ebola include high fever, bleeding, damage to the nervous system and vomiting
Outbreak: There is no vaccine or cure for Ebola, which is spread by contact with infected blood or bodily fluids
The
Government agency’s global health director, Dr Brian McCloskey, said:
‘It is the largest outbreak of this disease to date, and it’s clear it
is not under control.
‘We
have alerted UK medical practitioners about the situation in West
Africa and requested they remain vigilant for unexplained illness in
those who have visited the affected area.’
The
current outbreak started in Guinea in February and spread to
neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone in weeks. Symptoms include high
fever, bleeding and damage to the nervous system.
There is no vaccine or cure. It is spread by contact with infected blood or other bodily fluids.
All
outbreaks since 1976 – when Ebola was first identified – have been in
Africa, with the previous highest death toll being 280.
However,
authorities around the world have been put on high alert in recent
weeks after an American doctor working in Liberia became infected and
passed through an airport.
Nigerian
health officials yesterday admitted they did not have a list of all the
people who came into contact Patrick Sawyer, prompting fears the
outbreak could spread.
But the manifesto appears to have been disclosed as Professor
Sunday Omilabu, from Lagos University Teaching Hospital, said health
officials are in the process of tracing all those people who are thought
to have been in contact with Mr Sawyer.
He said: 'We've been making contacts. We now have information about the (flight) manifest.
'We have information about who and who were around.
'So,
as I'm talking, our teams are in the facility, where they've trained
the staff, and then they (are) now asking questions about those that
were closely in contact with the patient.'
Public health adviser, Yewande Adeshina, added: 'We're actually looking at contacting over 30,000 people in this very scenario.
'Because any and everybody that has contacted this person is going to be treated as a suspect.'
Spreading: The outbreak has hit
Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and has now killed a man in far more
densely populated Nigeria. The outbreak is the deadliest ever of the
terrifying disease as the death toll crept past 670
Mr
Sawyer, a consultant for Liberia’s Finance Ministry, had been in
Liberia for the funeral of his sister, who also died from the disease,
and was on his way back to his home in the US.
The
40-year-old arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, on July 20 and had suffered from
vomiting and diarrhoea on two flights. He was put in isolation in
hospital and died on Friday.
So
far 59 people who came into contact with him have been identified and
are under surveillance. But the airlines have yet to release flight
information naming passengers and crew members.
Dr
David Heymann, head of the Centre on Global Health Security, said every
person who had been on the plane to Lagos with Mr Sawyer would need to
be traced.
Sierra
Leone’s top doctor fighting Ebola died yesterday after he contracted
the virus just days ago. Sheik Umar Khan was credited with treating more
than 100 patients.
Liberia closed most of its border crossings on Sunday and Nigeria’s airports and borders have been on full alert since Friday.
ARE YOU AT RISK OF CATCHING THE INCURABLE, DEADLY EBOLA DISEASE?
What is Ebola virus disease?
Ebola
is a severe, often fatal illness, with a death rate of up to 90 per
cent.The illness affects humans as well as primates, including monkeys,
gorillas and chimpanzees.
How do people become infected with the virus?
How do people become infected with the virus?
Ebola is transmitted through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals.
In
Africa infection in humans has happened as a result of contact with
chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and
porcupines found ill or dead in the rainforest.
Once
a person becomes infected, the virus can spread through contact with a
sufferer's blood, urine, saliva, stools and semen. A person can also
become infected if broken skin comes into contact with a victim's soiled
clothing, bed linen or used needles.
Men
who have recovered from the disease, can still spread the virus to
their partner through their semen for seven weeks after recovery.
Who is most at risk?
Those at risk during an outbreak include:
- health workers
- family members or others in close contact with infected people
- mourners with direct contact with the bodies of deceased victims
- hunters in contact with dead animals
What are the typical signs and symptoms?
Sudden
onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore
throat. That is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney
and liver function and internal and external bleeding.
The incubation period is between two and 21 days. A person will become contagious once they start to show symptoms.
When should you seek medical care?
If
a person is in an area affected by the outbreak, or has been in contact
with a person known or suspected to have Ebola, they should seek
medical help immediately.
What is the treatment?
What is the treatment?
Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. They need intravenous fluids to rehydrate them.
But there is currently no specific treatment for the disease. Some patients will recover with the appropriate care.
Can Ebola be prevented?
Can Ebola be prevented?
Currently there is no licensed vaccine for Ebola. Several are being tested but are not available for clinical use.
Is it safe to travel to affected areas?
The
World Health Organisation reviews the public health situation
regularly, and recommends travel or trade restrictions if necessary. The
risk of infection for travellers is very low since person-to-person
transmission results from direct contact with bodily fluids of victims.
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