Who update 8/20/2014

Up to 1350 deaths now.

Ebola virus disease update - west Africa

Disease outbreak news
20 August 2014
Epidemiology and surveillance

Between 17 and 18 August 2014, a total of 221 new cases of Ebola virus disease (laboratory-confirmed, probable, and suspect cases) as well as 106 deaths were reported from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Health sector response

WHO continues to engage in high-level communication efforts with affected countries, companies and organizations doing business in and from Africa, and national and global leaders. Currently, some companies have taken the decision to suspend services to the affected countries. This includes airlines and shipping companies. As a result of these decisions, countries are beginning to experience supply shortages, including fuel, food, and basic supplies. WHO is working with the UN World Food Programme to ensure adequate food and supplies, but calls on companies to make business decisions based on scientific evidence with regard to the transmission of Ebola virus.

In the current outbreak, the majority of Ebola virus disease cases are a result of human-to-human transmission and failure to apply appropriate infection prevention and control measures in home care, some clinical settings, and in burial rituals. It is important to understand that EVD is not an airborne disease. Individuals may become infected as a result of contact with the bodily fluids (vomit, diarrhoea, sputum, blood, etc.) from persons who are confirmed to have EVD or who have died from EVD. Companies bringing goods and services to the affected countries are at low risk for exposure to EVD and WHO, under the International Health Regulations, encourages companies and organizations to continue providing these necessary supplies.

Countries around the world continue to engage in active surveillance for cases of EVD. Reports have been received by WHO of suspected cases and systematic verification is underway in a number of countries to confirm whether these are actual EVD cases. Overall, these reports are a positive sign that surveillance is working and countries are stepping up their preparedness to respond. As of today, no cases have been confirmed outside Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, or Sierra Leone.

A high-level delegation from WHO is currently in the affected countries, working with the national authorities and partners to adapt strategic operations response plans. Meetings are planned with leaders in Liberia and Sierra Leone, where transmission continues to be high.

WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions be applied except in cases where individuals have been confirmed or are suspected of being infected with EVD or where individuals have had contact with cases of EVD. (Contacts do not include properly-protected health-care workers and laboratory staff.) Temporary recommendations from the Emergency Committee with regard to actions to be taken by countries can be found at:

    IHR Emergency Committee on Ebola outbreak in west Africa

Disease update
Confirmed, probable, and suspect cases and deaths from Ebola virus disease in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, as of 18 August 2014

     New (1)      Confirmed      Probable      Suspect      Totals
Guinea                          
Cases      36      423      140      16      579
Deaths      2      254      140      2      396
Liberia                          
Cases      126      242      502      228      972
Deaths      95      212      239      125      576
Nigeria                          
Cases      0      12      0      3      15
Deaths      0      4      0      0      4
Sierra Leone                          
Cases      59      783      52      72      907
Deaths      9      335      34      5      374
Totals                          
Cases      221      1460      694      319      2473
Deaths      106      805      413      132      1350
1. New cases were reported between 17 and 18 August 2014.           
                         

The total number of cases is subject to change due to ongoing reclassification, retrospective investigation, and availability of laboratory results. Data reported in the Disease Outbreak News are based on official information reported by Ministries of Health.

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2014_08_20_ebola/en/

That increase covers 24 hours only. That's 9.9 - or 10% in one day. Like I said, either WHO will start to slowly feed estimated numbers (to cover the assumed missed cases) -which I doubt they'd do without clearly noting it or these cases are about to explode. (Edited)

You'd think they'd learn that pandemic Ponzi schemes don't work unless you can exert as much control as China. At some point you have to fess up to the cases you've been hiding, and then things start to look even worse real fast.

Ten percent in a day...plus a possible case in my backyard in Sacramento. Not a good news day!

I can believe numbers by country but the total is way off cause Nigeria is playing games. Here is a problem- - Nigeria finally decides to fes up and dumps some good size numbers into the equation. The world (not WHO) sees it as a surge in cases and all hell breaks loose - - borders close, airlines quit flying, logistics quit flowing, medical people are pulled back home to deal with expected cases and so on. We need honest reporting right away so we can react properly.