Epidemiological update: outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa
Ebola transmission remains persistent and widespread in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, especially in the capital cities. Number of cases reported is now 13 703, including 4 920 deaths.
Since December 2013 and as of 27 October 2014, WHO has reported 13 703 cases of EVD including 4 920 deaths.
Countries with widespread and intense transmission:
- Guinea: 1 906 cases and 997 deaths as of 27 October 2014;
- Liberia: 6 535 cases and 2 413 deaths as of 25 October 2014;
- Sierra Leone: 5 235 cases and 1 500 deaths as of 27 October 2014;
Countries with an initial case or cases, or with localised transmission:
- Mali: one imported confirmed case from Guinea was reported in Kayes, Mali on 23 October; the case died on 24 October;
- United States: four cases including one death. The last confirmed case occurred in New York on 23 October 2014;
- Spain: one case, no deaths. The case is the result of secondary transmission in Spain to a nurse who cared for an EVD patient who had been evacuated from Liberia. The nurse was isolated on 6 October 2014;
- Nigeria: 20 cases and 8 deaths. Nigeria was declared Ebola free on 19 October 2014;
- Senegal: 1 confirmed imported case, no deaths. Senegal was declared Ebola free on 17 October 2014.
Distribution of cases of EVD by week of reporting in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Mali, weeks 48/2013 to 44/2014*
*The bar for week 44/2014 does not represent a complete week. The solid green line represents the trend based on a five week moving average plotted on the fifth week of the moving average window. The figure includes imported cases in Senegal and Mali. According to WHO the marked increase in the cumulative total number of cases in week 43 is due to a more comprehensive assessment of patient databases leading to 3 792 additional reported cases. However, these cases have occurred throughout the epidemic period.(Source: World Health Organization. Ebola response roadmap situation report)
Situation in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
According to WHO, EVD transmission remains persistent and widespread in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, especially in the capital cities. All administrative districts in Liberia and Sierra Leone reported at least one confirmed or probable case of EVD since the epidemic began. Case numbers continue to be under-reported.
Distribution of cases of EVD by week of reporting in the three countries with widespread and intense transmission as of week 44/2014*
* The bar for week 44/2014 does not represent a complete calendar week; the marked increase in the number of cases reported in weeksd 43 and 44 results from a more comprehensive assessment of patient databases. The additional 3 792 cases have occurred throughout the epidemic period. (Source: Data are based on official information reported by ministries of health up to the end of 27 October for Guinea and Sierra Leone and 25 October for Liberia)
Distribution of cases of EVD by week of reporting in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia (as of week 43/2014)
Source: Data from ministry of health reports (probable and confirmed cases)
Situation among healthcare workers in West Africa
As of 27 October 2014, WHO reported 551 healthcare workers infected with EVD of whom 272 died.
| Country | Healthcare worker cases (% of reported cases) | Healthcare worker deaths (% of reported deaths) |
|---|---|---|
| Guinea | 80 (4.2) | 43 (4.3) |
| Liberia | 299 (4.8) | 123 (5.1) |
| Sierra Leone | 127 (2.4) | 101 (6.7) |
| Nigeria | 11 (55.0) | 5 (62.5) |
| Spain | 1 (100) | 0 |
| United States of America | 3 (75.0) | 0 |
| Total | 521 (3.8) | 272 (5.5) |
Source: data are based on official information reported by Ministries of Health
Situation outside of West Africa
USA: No new cases have been reported since 23 October. The last case is a medical aid worker who volunteered in Guinea and recently returned to the United States. According to WHO, as of 29 October, two healthcare workers who became infected with Ebola have tested negative twice and have now been released from hospital [1].On 20 October, Texas Health Department confirmed that 43 persons in Texas who had contact with the state's first Ebola patient have been cleared from twice-daily monitoring after reaching the 21-day mark.
Spain: No new cases have been reported since 6 October. On 29 October, Spain notified that the confirmed secondary case of EVD isolated in Spain tested negative for the disease for a second time on 21 October, and according to protocols is now considered free of Ebola infection. As of 27 October, out of 83 contacts identified, 15 high-risk contacts have reached the 21-day period and have been discharged; six low-risk contacts are currently being followed-up; all others have been discharged. None of the contacts are asymptomatic.
Mali: On 29 October WHO reports that 84 persons, of whom 11 are healthcare workers, are currently being followed-up in the region of Kayes and in Bamako District as contacts of the of the two-year-old girl from Guinea who recently died of Ebola.
Related information
Event background
Medical evacuations from EVD-affected countries
Download the data
- EVD epicurve data Cumulative number of cases and deaths for the five West African countries with reported EVD cases (Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal). Source: WHO
- EVD map data Cumulative number of cases and deaths at subnational level of the five West African countries with reported EVD cases (Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal). Source: National situation reportFor those weeks without reported data, the most recent figures were used as best estimate of the number of case).
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