A Spanish nurse, who became the first person to contract Ebola outside Africa, has been transferred to a new hospital in Madrid. The nurse treated two priests, who contracted the virus in West Africa, and were flown to Spain for treatment. Both have since died. Some 30 other health workers, who came into contact with the nurse, are now being monitored.
Meanwhile, the African Union Chairperson, Nkosana Dlamini-Zuma is calling for more outside manpower to help “break the cycle” of the Ebola virus that is ravaging three West African countries. She spoke in Paris during a forum on ways to make Africa’s economic growth more sustainable and inclusive.
More than 7000 cases have been reported since the outbreak began, and more than 3,300 deaths. The World Health Organization says there are likely more cases and deaths that go unreported. It says the epidemic will continue to worsen, with as many as 20,000 cases by the end of November 2014. Health workers are worse affected, with 377 infected and 216 dead.
With Liberia being the hardest hit by the Ebola outbreak, medical teams are struggling to cope with the mounting numbers of victims dying in their homes. Body retrieval teams in the capital Monrovia are tasked with collecting the dead. It’s one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
