Towards the end of 2014, every time Americans turned on the news, it seemed as if every broadcast was about increasing outbreaks of Ebola. Then, as 2015 rolled around, the disease suddenly disappeared. Many individuals have found themselves wondering about the effects of the disease.
The main problem is in West Africa, which is where the disease originated. Through travelling, the disease made its way over to America which is when the media exploded, specifically about a case of it in Dallas, Texas. As of now, the two nurses who were diagnosed with Ebola were cured of it.
The main areas of concern are in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone (which are all in West Africa), which is where the disease hit the hardest. Things are finally starting to look up however, as death cases of Ebola are steadily declining. In fact, the travel restrictions set on these areas are beginning to be lifted, signifying a new hope, and maybe an Ebola-free world very soon.
The World Health Organization has admitted that there is no set treatment for Ebola. However, a lot of progress is being made towards making sure that a vaccine comes out quickly. These vaccines are being tried in the US and the UK, and will eventually be tested in Europe and Africa.
As of Jan. 25, 2015, there were a total of 8,810 deaths, only one of which took place in the United States, while more than ninety-nine percent of these deaths occurred overseas.
While it looks like Ebola has taken its final bow for Americans, there’s a new contender to watch out for. Starting at Disneyland in Southern California, a staggering sixty-seven cases of measles in seven different states have broken out. This disease has spread to states including Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Some fear that the recent skepticism of parents towards vaccinating their children will lead to a quicker spreading of illnesses, such as the measles.
The measles is a virus that is spread by sneezes or coughs. The last time Americans saw the measles, they suffered a large amount of casualties, surpassing four-hundred deaths in 1963. For more information about measles and its symptoms, go to www.cdc.gov for more information.
Sources: CNN, NY Times, BBC