Ivory Coast reports first Ebola case in 25 years after Guinea epidemic

World Health Organization has claimed that a patient in Abidjan, Western Africa has reportedly tested positive for Ebola, making it one of the first cases of the lethal disease in Ivory Coast in over a quarter-century.

For the record, Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or any contaminated materials. Although, early symptoms of muscle aches and fever are similar to other diseases found in the region like malaria.

The patient currently undergoing treatment in Abidjan had arrived by bus from Guinea, raising concerns that other travelers could be at a potential risk.  

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director of WHO, was quoted stating “The latest case of Ebola is a major concern for the people of Abidjan, a metropolis of over 4 million people. However, most of the expertise to tackle Ebola lies on the continent and Cote d'Ivoire can tap into the experience and help extend effective treatment.”  

Sources cite that the new case marks the first time since the 2014 to 2016 Ebola epidemic that occurred in a city as large as Abidjan.

The epidemic that occurred in rural Guinea later spread to the capital cities of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Over 11,325 people died in what emerged as one of the largest outbreaks of Ebola ever.

Over the years, two vaccines and new forms of treatments have been designed to treat hemorrhagic fever that once claimed the lives of more than half the people suffering from the disease.  

Notably, the above mentioned tools were used to end outbreaks in Congo and another discovered in Guinea during the first half of 2021.

Guinea is also focusing on controlling the outbreak of a rare Marburg virus which is a hemorrhagic fever illness that belongs to the same family as Ebola.   

Source Credits: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/ebola-case-reported-in-ivory-coast-after-guinea-outbreak/articleshow/85350733.cms