Travelling
here is more risky than ever. The deadly Ebola virus struck Uganda for a month
ago.
According to the
World Health Organisation (WHO), this disease has claimed over 47 lives around
Gulu town in northern Uganda. In
addition 75 people are infected. Local and international medical experts do what
they can to combat the spread of the disease. Because of fighting in the areas near
Gulu it is difficult to stop the epidemic. But medical experts are now convinced
that they have brought the spread of the current outbreak under control. The
panic is over so far. The daily life has returned to normal again.
But many questions arise. Was it brought from soldiers in the riot army Lords
Resistance Army (LRA) who has their bases in Sudan? Is it of the same type as
the outbreak in Sudan 1976? Will it vanish for good? Some experts maintain that
Ebola is a pre historical (ancient) disease. It is not a new disease as many
experts once believed. Is it possible that this Ebola and other mysterious
diseases occur because humans penetrate uninhabited areas? Even though there are many
interesting places to visit in Uganda and neighbouring countries, are you
willing to take the risk to go there now or in the future?
In accordance to BBC, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) team in
the affected area, Guenael Rodier, said it would take at least 10 days, the
length of the incubation period, before the number of new cases began to shrink.
Ebola, which causes fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and eventually severe
internal haemorrhage, has no known cure. The virus infects through body
contact and air. Experts have traced the origins of the current Ebola strain in
Sudan. WHO spokesman Valary Abramov said the reference is to an Ebola outbreak
in Sudan in 1976-77. "Ebola Zaire is a much more virulent strain", he
said. Ebola Zaire has a mortality rate of 70 to 90%. The United Nations
food agency (WFP) is now setting up a feeding programme at the two hospitals in
Gulu where the victims are being treated.
Travel explorations have always been risky, and will continue to be.
Even though we live in 21st century we probably have to be aware that
some diseases may never be extinguished. Despite all the progress of science and
modern medicine, we have to realise this. New and deadly viruses will continue
to emerge in the future, and deadly diseases we thought we had defeated will
return. Be aware of that when you explore the most exciting and untouched places
around the world!
Stein Morten Lund, 21 October
2000.
Additional information
Short background story about Ebola:
1967 The first case of a virus that caused bleeding, was discovered in
African monkeys imported to the German city Marburg. Markeburg virus is related
to Ebola. It infected 31 people, and caused 7 deaths.
1976 Ebola was recognised around the Ebola river in Zaire (now called the
Democratic Republic of Congo). 318 become infected and 280 died.
1976 Outbreak in Sudan. 117 died and 284 become infected.
1977 Some cases of infection occurs in Zaire.
1979 22 people died of Ebola in Sudan.
1989 New Ebola was identified in monkeys from the Philippines, who where
imported to the Reston laboratory in Texas in USA.
1994-96 Many outbreaks of Ebola both in the Gabon and the Ebola-Ivory
Coast.
1995 The most serious outbreak is in Kikwit in Zaire. 245 of the 316 infected
people dies of the disease.
According to WHO statistics Ebola has caused death of 793 people world
wide. 1100 infection cases are known. The real number of cases is probably
higher.
More
news:
Keep updated about the development through these sources:
www.bbconline.co.uk
www.who.com
Scientific
information:
www.cdc.gov/ncidod
(Center for Disease Control and
Prevention)
KRT/Bulls sources: The Hot Zone by Richard Preston, News in
Motion (how the Ebola attacks the blood).
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