Biggest ever outbreak 'out of control': Ebola deaths in West Africa rise to 467

An expert says that the spread of the disease is 'out of control'.

17:13 03 July 2014

The ongoing Ebola outbreak that has already affected 759 people across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone is by far the deadliest instance from one single outbreak, it has been revealed as its death toll reaches 467 and counting. 

 

The highly infectious disease, which is considered one of the world’s deadliest, causes fever, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea, can kill between 50 and 90 per cent of patients. 

 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) hosted an emergency meeting in Ghana on Wednesday to discuss the escalating crisis. It was in that forum that the director of the Welcome Trust charity said that the spread of the disease was “out of control.”

 

Jeremy Farrar said: "We have more than 450 deaths so far - and not a single individual has been offered anything beyond tepid sponging and 'we'll bury you nicely'. It's just unacceptable."

 

"It's ridiculous that we haven't got these (experimental) products out of labs and animal trials and into human testing, and at least offered to people.” 

 

Meanwhile, the WHO called on other states in the region to prepare for the disease and is currently trying to coordinate a strong response from the states affected.