New Medical Aid Response to Ebola Virus in Liberia

With support from AmeriCares and GlaxoSmithKline, the staff of Ganta Hospital in Liberia will soon have 600 pairs of gloves, 3,000 gowns, 600 pairs of goggles and other critical equipment they need to help stop the spread of the highly infectious, deadly Ebola virus.  

In April, AmeriCares received a request for personal protective equipment from Ganta Hospital, which is near the border with Guinea where more cases have occurred. As of June 21, 2014, more than 300 West Africans have died from infection with Ebola, which causes fever, impaired organ function and, in some cases, internal and external bleeding.

The virus is spread by close contact with infected people and animals and 90 percent of cases are fatal. Health workers depend on equipment such as disposable gloves, gowns and goggles to protect themselves and others.  

Deadly Ebola Virus

• The Ebola virus has one of the highest fatality rates—up to 90%
• Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with blood, body fluids and tissues of infected persons. Bodies can remain contagious for up to 60 days.
• Ebola has an incubation period of 2-12 days. Symptoms include fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat.
• There are five strains of Ebola virus, three of which have been associated with large outbreaks of the virus in Africa.

*source: WHO