ELasry

An outbreak that has been ongoing for over 6 months and has infected over 4000 people and killed over 2000 is not only having devastating consequences on the patients and their families, but is already leaving the health systems of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea shattered, and in need of a complete reconstruction.

The implications are huge. A deconstructed health system with half of the medical population decimated, a lack of trust in health facilities from the population, and apart from all of the Ebola cases and deaths, all of the non-Ebola cases and deaths that are not being managed, and that are probably in the 10s of thousands.

Difficult to know how far it can spread, since it depends largely on the response, but it is clear that the neighboring countries are at high risk.

Question: "Is Ebola a form of DIC because of the severe bleeding?" Answer: Some of the mechanisms are similar to DIC, as it affects the chain of coagulation, but Ebola also has effects on the immune system, making the response to fight against the virus more difficult for the infected patient.

Getting ready to wrap up.

Please remember that this outbreak is not only having consequences on the Ebola patients, but on the rest of the population mainly of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. The health systems of these 3 countries was already weak and it will now take years to reconstruct and to regain the population's trust. Once the outbreak is over and it's not in the headlines, people will forget how devastated these countries are. It is then that we will need to ensure continued support and awareness.

Thank you for all your questions and interest.