RABAT, August 03, 19:00 /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s embassy in Guinea has been placed in strict quarantine over the worst-ever Ebola outbreak in that country, Sergei Berezny, a charge d’affaires at the Russian embassy told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

Ebola fever broke out in Guinea in March spreading on other cities in West Africa. On Friday, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, in the presence of the presidents of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire, announced a large-scale programme to fight the Ebola outbreak which has already killed 729 people and left 1,323 infected.

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%.” The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people. There is no known cure or vaccine for the disease. The only treatment offered is “supportive intensive care.” During an outbreak, those at higher risk of infection are health workers, family members and others in close contact with sick people and deceased patients.