The current outbreak of the Ebola virus is understandably
causing widespread international concern, with over 4,900 deaths
out of approximately 13,000 people understood to have been infected
or exposed at the date of publication.
Concentrated in West Africa (WAF), the outbreak started in
Guinea, quickly spreading across land to neighbouring Liberia and
Sierra Leone, all countries with weak health systems, human and
infrastructural resources. At date of issue these are the only
countries classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as
having established transmission. Though abating in the
original hotspots, medical opinion is that the virus is still
spreading geographically to new districts, including the capitals,
of these countries. It is, however, hoped that increasing
international support and investment and the imminent arrival of
the UK armed forces in Sierra Leone, French forces in Guinea and US
in Liberia will assist efforts to abate transmission.
