GUINEA: Mobilisation against an unprecedented Ebola outbreak

While eight confirmed cases of Ebola have been recorded in the capital Conakry, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is facing an unprecedented epidemic due to the distribution of the number of cases which are now scattered in several cities of Guinea. Reported since March 22, the Ebola outbreak affecting for the first time Guinea counts already 122 suspected cases and 78 deaths. While new cases were registered in the capital Conakry, the epidemic has not been contained in the Forest Region to the east of the country, especially in the cities of Guékédou and Macenta. MSF is now deployed in three different sites, constructing patient isolation units and seeking other potentially infected people. Over the past two weeks, MSF has sent more than 40 tons of equipment to deal with this epidemic. Sixty doctors, nurses, logisticians, water and sanitation specialists as well as health promoters have been sent to Conakry, Guékédou and Macenta. MSF has worked in Guinea since 2001 for HIV / AIDS and malaria projects.