Ebola risk: Outbreak set to get worse, official warns

The Ebola outbreak currently gripping West Africa will get worse before it gets better, a public health official in the US has said.

 

Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control, said that in order to bring the epidemic under control, an “unprecedented” response would be needed.

 

According to the BBC, he said that it was the worst Ebola outbreak the world had ever seen. "The cases are increasing. I wish I did not have to say this, but it is going to get worse before it gets better," he said.

 

"The world has never seen an outbreak of Ebola like this. Consequently, not only are the numbers large, but we know there are many more cases than has been diagnosed and reported.”

 

Ahead of a meeting of west African health ministers in Ghana to discuss the escalation of the problem, he called on Liberians to “come together” to put an end to misconceptions that have enabled the spread of the disease.

 

Of the four countries affected, Liberia has suffered most at the hands of the deadly virus. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 624 deaths and 1,082 cases have occurred there since the start of the epidemic in February. Other countries where the disease is prevalent include Guinea, Sierra Leone and, most recently, Nigeria.

 

There is currently no confirmed treatment for the virus, but a number of companies are trying to develop a cure. Find out more about the treatments being developed here.

 

Yesterday, Fujifilm announced that it was making its experimental anti-flu drug Favipiravir available for use for sufferers, which resulted in its share price going up to ¥3,254 in morning trading.