Buzz
Have you heard of Ebola? It’s a deadly disease that originates from West Africa, affecting only people there, right? Unfortunately, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, or Ebola virus disease (EVD), has been around for decades and could soon reach a country near you, if it hasn't already. As a hemorrhagic fever, Ebola can damage major organs, disrupt blood vessels, and cause severe illness in humans. The virus has been responsible for over 11,000 fatalities reported from 1976 to 2016.
Recurrent in West Africa, with cases popping up globally, it appears EVD will not be disappearing anytime soon. Many of the reported cases outside West Africa have been from healthcare workers who have served or been stationed in the region. These infections usually stem from exposure to the virus while abroad. Consequently, the following ten locations have experienced suspected or confirmed EVD cases in the past five years.
10. Lagos, Nigeria
In the summer of 2014, a Liberian-American man flew from Liberia to Lagos, Nigeria. Upon arrival at the airport, he fell severely ill and tragically passed away five days later. Two prominent infectious disease specialists who attended to him at the hospital also succumbed to the virus. This initial EVD case led to the infection of 19 individuals, with seven fatalities.
The virus was officially declared contained by October 2014 after 42 days without new reported cases. In early 2018, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority urged airports across the country to maintain heightened vigilance in detecting the virus, implementing thorough screening for both passengers and crew arriving from EVD-affected regions.
9. Gulu, Uganda
EVD cases were first documented in Uganda in 2000, with subsequent outbreaks occurring in 2012, 2014, and 2018. Given their geographical proximity, these cases are believed to be linked to the EVD outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Sudan. Data shows that there have been 425 reported EVD cases in Gulu, Northern Uganda, resulting in 224 deaths.
Since early 2018, suspected EVD cases in Uganda have been rising, particularly in the northern and eastern regions. This increase is attributed to the resurgence of EVD in the DRC and Sudan, along with a rise in refugees escaping violence. Many of these cases have been identified as Marburg disease, a viral hemorrhagic disease closely related to EVD, which shares symptoms such as internal bleeding and vomiting.
8. Mali
In 2014, a man infected with EVD from Guinea traveled to Mali and later died. The virus spread to seven other people, leading to a total of six deaths.
Despite the challenges, the response from healthcare agencies and the Malian government has been commendable. There is no need for concern regarding infection, as in 2019, Mali was classified by the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a no-go zone for foreign nationals. Only essential travel is recommended in most parts of the country.
7. Glasgow, Scotland
In 2014, while working in Sierra Leone, a healthcare worker contracted Ebola. She became one of the most controversial EVD cases after being undiagnosed upon her arrival at Heathrow Airport in London. Her temperature was checked by the attending doctor, who reported it as normal, though it was actually elevated. After returning to Glasgow, her condition worsened, triggering a national panic. The doctor who examined her was later suspended for falsifying the details of her examination.
After months of isolation, the patient eventually recovered from the virus. However, she returned to the hospital for follow-up checks as traces of the Ebola virus reappeared in various parts of her body. On two occasions, she was near death but managed to recover fully. This case has been recorded as one of the most severe Ebola infections in the West.
6. Dallas, Texas, US
In 2014, a Liberian visiting family in Dallas, Texas, became ill with the Ebola virus and tragically passed away in a hospital. It was later revealed that, upon arrival from Liberia, he had falsely declared on his airport entry forms that he had not been in contact with individuals infected by EVD in West Africa. As a result, two nurses who treated him also contracted Ebola. Thankfully, both nurses survived.
One of the nurses later filed a lawsuit against the hospital's parent company, citing inadequate personal protective equipment and health and safety measures. The case led to a settlement. It remains unclear whether she is still working as a nurse.
5. New York, New York, US
An emergency doctor who had been volunteering with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in Guinea returned to New York in October 2014 and quickly fell ill. After meeting up with friends and even going bowling, he became concerned when his fever worsened and isolated himself in his apartment. He was later transferred to Bellevue Hospital, placed in isolation, and three individuals who had close contact with him were also quarantined as a precaution. After several weeks, he fully recovered.
4. Sardinia
In 2015, a nurse returned to Sardinia after spending three months offering humanitarian aid in Sierra Leone with the charity Emergency. Upon noticing Ebola symptoms, he self-isolated and was eventually quarantined in a specialized hospital in Rome, Italy. The nurse was treated by an experienced doctor and successfully recovered from the virus.
3. Saudi Arabia
In 2014, a 40-year-old man returned to Saudi Arabia after a business trip to Sierra Leone. Soon after his arrival, he contracted the Ebola virus and was isolated for treatment. His return coincided with his pilgrimage to Jeddah, but he was halted to prevent the disease from spreading to other pilgrims. He remains the only known Ebola case to have traveled to Saudi Arabia.
According to experts from the World Health Organization, Ebola is transmitted through close, direct contact with infected individuals or their bodily fluids, such as blood and saliva. Healthcare workers must adhere to strict safety measures to prevent the virus from spreading, including wearing personal protective equipment when handling suspected or confirmed Ebola patients. Additionally, protocols for safely handling the bodies of Ebola victims must be followed. The virus can also resurface in various parts of the body months or even years after the initial infection and treatment.
If you’re traveling or working in regions affected by Ebola, such as Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, the DRC, or Uganda, remember to wash your hands frequently and be cautious of any cuts or abrasions. It's crucial to take safety precautions in these areas.
2. Cornwall, England
In 2014, a Nigerian security guard was quarantined for three weeks after visiting his family in Nigeria, leading to widespread media coverage. He expressed feeling targeted by the quarantine, which lasted until Nigeria was declared free of Ebola just two days after his return.
A Nigerian national staying at a navy base in Cornwall was also placed under quarantine after showing symptoms of illness. However, tests later revealed that he had contracted a rare form of the monkeypox virus, and he was transferred to London for treatment.
1. Madrid, Spain
A Spanish nurse contracted Ebola while caring for a patient flown from West Africa to Spain. The patient was a Spanish priest who had been working in Sierra Leone.
The nurse made a full recovery, but tragically, the priest passed away. He became the second Spanish priest to die from Ebola, following the first, who had been working as a healthcare worker in Liberia.
