The Oct. 10 report from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the Ebola outbreak raises some questions about the reports that organization is receiving from the West African nations fighting the disease. The WHO has expressed concerns about the under-reporting of Ebola cases several times. In this report, it points to Liberia and Sierra Leone for providing data that cannot be reconciled.
Liberia has reported 1,072 confirmed Ebola deaths to the WHO, but only 943 confirmed illnesses. Sierra Leone has 142 probable Ebola deaths but only 37 probable Ebola cases. Neither situation is possible since deaths should never exceed total cases.
Continuing the confusion, Liberia has issued a report from its Ministry of Health for Oct. 5. It shows 1,032 confirmed deaths from Ebola and just 941 confirmed cases. In an Oct. 10 update, the government of Sierra Leone reports 37 probable Ebola cases and 233 probable Ebola deaths. The issues raised by the WHO are not the result of an entry error at that organization, but are created by the two West African governments.
The reports from Sierra Leone contain other improbable data. The country reports few non-confirmed Ebola cases, rather than a mix of suspected, probable and confirmed as the other countries do. This suggest an under-count of unknown proportions. The number of Ebola deaths in Sierra Leone have also been questioned as the country reports a far lower death rate than in Guinea or Liberia.
There have been over 8,000 reported cases of Ebola in five West African nations, the United States and Spain since March. There have been about 4,200 deaths. Senegal and Nigeria are reported to be Ebola-free. The outbreak continues to grow in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia has quarantined 41, including 20 military, after a U.N. health care worker was diagnosed with Ebola, the AP reported Oct. 11. The patient has been flown to Germany for treatment. Another UN staffer died from Ebola on Sept. 26.
The United States is monitoring 48 people who are contacts or potential contacts of its first Ebola patient, the CDC reported Oct. 10. No additional illnesses have been reported.
The AP reported Oct. 11 that 16 patients are in Ebola-related isolation at a hospital in Madrid as a Spanish nurse fights for her life. She contracted Ebola while caring for a patient who had been evacuated from West Africa. Despite reporting her illness several times, she was not admitted to isolation for several days while symptomatic. The 16 are relatives, health care workers, her hair dresser and a hospital janitor, and all have been exposed to Ebola.
U.S. troops continue to pour in to Liberia and more are being trained to deploy. The 36th Engineer Brigade from Ft. Hood, Texas, is sending 450 troops to the Ebola fight. They will be constructing Ebola treatment units with each expected to take about 30 days to complete.
U.S. Marines and Navy personnel have arrived in Africa. With them were four MV-22 Ospreys, a unique airplane that can also land vertically as well as on a runway. The troops and aircraft provide the U.S. commander in Liberia with additional options for the delivery of freight and personnel.