Ebola: Protection of health workers on the front line

摘要

Although fears were raised about the possible spread of Ebola virus to the UK and USA last week, the real concern remains in west Africa. Unlike previous outbreaks in east Africa that were brought under control fairly swiftly, the west African outbreak has become the worst in history. 1603 people have had suspected or confirmed Ebola virus disease in the four affected countries (Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nigeria) and 887 died between March, 2014, and Aug 1, 2014. On Aug 1, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan and the presidents of the affected countries launched a new joint US$100 million plan to bring the outbreak under control. The intensified response is much needed. The plan rightly recognises the need for several hundred more personnel, including clinical doctors and nurses, epidemiologists, and social mobilisation experts, to be deployed to the affected countries. Domestic and foreign health workers on the ground dealing with the outbreak have been overstretched.