GENEVA, April 30. /TASS/. The World Health Organization (WHO) has registered 48 deaths from Ebola virus and 131 new cases in West Africa since April 27, according to a statistical report distributed on Thursday.
Since the start of the Ebola virus outbreak, 10,890 people died in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leonem while 26,290 others have been infected. In line with statistics, the maximum number of Ebola-related deaths and cases has been registered in Liberia - 4,608 cumulative deaths and 10,322 cumulative cases. Liberia is followed by Sierra Leone (3,901 deaths and 12,387 cases) and Guinea (2,381 deaths and 3,581 cases).
Separate cases have also been registered in Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Spain, Great Britain and the United States. In most of these countries the number of Ebola-related cases does not exceed ten, with the only exception of Nigeria, where 20 people are infected by Ebola virus and eight have died.
The World Health Organization describes Ebola virus disease (formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) as "a severe, often fatal illness, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%." Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people. People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus. The incubation period is 2 to 21 days. There is no known cure or vaccine for the disease. The only treatment offered is "supportive intensive care.".