Background and summary
Responding to the confirmed outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD), the IFRC launched an Emergency Appeal on 4 April 2014 to support the National Society in their strategy to contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality through community health outreach, and social mobilization; psychosocial support. Major components of the Emergency Appela and the support to the National Society are in the form of IFRC surge capacity – a Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT), complemented by a Swiss Red Cross Logistics Emergency Response Unit (ERU), and a French Red Cross Health ERU. Both ERU teams are providing vital and effective support in their areas of technical expertise.
Current situation
Latest EVD figures indicate 159 clinical cases, with 104 deaths -- a case fatality ratio of some 65% (see figures 1 and table 1 below for details). Care is to be taken with these figures; the fast evolving and epidemiological nature of EVD means that the figures can present a potentially one-dimensional aspect to the situation; the reality is that the epidemiological trend is impossible to predict. Currently, a total of 675 contacts have been identified (those who may have come into contact with persons carrying the ebola virus); most of these are in known locations and are being monitored (lasting over a 3-week period); but a significant number of contacts remain in known locations and are therefore not monitored.
The main route from Guinée Forestière through Faranah in Haute Guinée and Mamou in Moyenne Guinée to Conakry is at particular risk. The agreed Red Cross and Red Crescent approach is not to try and chase confirmed cases, but to accept the likely proliferation of the outbreak and engage in social mobilization, case finding, and contact tracing in the areas at risk.