As of October, the Ebola virus continues to spread. Over the course of just a few months, August through October, The Ebola virus has infected an estimate of 8000 people. Out of those cases reported to the World Health Organization, around half have died. Ebola spreads by the contact with bodily fluid from the infected (blood, Sweat, etc.) Although the average Ebola patient infects 1-2 people, the epicenter of the disease happens to be in the area of the globe where sanitary measures are non existent and disease, and medical assistance is limited. This has lead to the peaks of around 675 cases in Liberia, 420 cases in Sierra Leone, and 210 cases in Guinea; all between the 40 and 45 week mark since the firsts case were reported. Outside of the main area of cases (epicenter) of the disease, few places have been infected. Those that have had or have infected patients (Nigeria, Spain, United States, and Senegal) have been able to isolate or destroy the virus completely by waiting it out. Besides those in the epicenter, the people at the highest risk of contracting the disease are health workers; 4 out of 4 patients in the United States have been health workers. There have been 416 health workers infected and 233 have died. Almost as many health workers have been infected in 2014 when compared to the second worst outbreak in 2000 when the disease spread through Uganda, leaving 224 total patients dead.
A graph in the article shows one infected patient. They then come in contact with 3 other people, one does not contract the disease but the other two do. One of the two infected is isolated and the spread stops; the other patient comes in contact with 3 people. Out of those three people, 1 is infected and isolated. The spreading stops. The authors overall point is that Ebola can be destroyed, but to do so, we need the cooperation of both the patient and both global and internal communities. This could be anything from isolating a loved one, to shutting down international flights to infected areas. The authors’ “cure” is clear, but they do express a cost. The humans are being effected within the epicenter health wise, but If the virus is abolished today, they will owe over half a billion dollars, even with their financial aid.Overall, the cost financially and medically is affecting the people greatly and will continue to do so as the devastating virus rages on.