Ebola virus detected in Guinea

The resurgence of the Ebola virus in Guinea has led to widespread panic among health authorities around the world. The presence of the virus was confirmed in Gouéké, a town which hosts the biggest weekly market in the region. The first case was detected in a health worker who passed away towards the end of January. Authorities suspect that the virus was spread through her funeral as 7 people who attended the ceremony contracted the virus. The nurse was very active in her community and had probably transmitted the virus to multiple people before her demise. 3 out of the 7 people who contracted the virus have already passed away.

Even during the 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic, funerals where people help wash the body of the deceased were the main reason for the extent of the virus’ spread. Dr. Georges Ki-Zerbo, the head of the WHO’s office in Guinea said that the first epidemiological surveillance unit had set out for Gouéké on Monday to identify the initial cause for the spread of the virus.