Ebola virus – feedback from sierra leone

Ebola – feedback from Sierra Leone

DR LOUISE BERRY

DECEMBER 2014

Some virology Discovered in 1976 by Peter Piot Named after the Ebola river in DRC (Zaire) 5 species - Zaire Ebolavirus is responsible Enveloped RNA virus –Filovirus family

Incubation period ~ 8 days (3-21) Exposure to bodily fluids Symptoms: Fever, abdo pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, hiccups, haemorrhage

Sierra Leone Gained independence in 1961 – former British colony

10 years of civil war 1991-2002

Bottom 5% of countries per GDP

1 in 8 mothers die in childbirth

1 in 5 children die before 5 years

Ave life expectancy of 45 years.

Number of doctors 3/100,000 (135)

Then add Ebola into the mix…

Social mobilisation Dispelling myths

SMS, radio

Culturally relevant messaging

Handwashing

Training the Cubans

Rokupa Government Hospital

Training

How to put on PPE and take off safely Clinical care Infection control Preparation of chlorine solutions for handwashing and cleaning

Screening Triage

Going forward

Diagnostics - Lab capacity doubled – PHE lab, rapid test being trialled

Number of treatment beds doubled – but need for much more scale up

Kerrytown, Community care units

Theraputics candidates and ebola vaccine trials

But

Huge need for more beds

Care for orphans

Unlikely to see end of epidemic until middle of next year

Collapse of primary health care – measles outbreak/maternal mortality?

Thank you

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