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Ebola crisis: Dozens monitored after first Mali case Ebola crisis: 'Many exposed' to infected Mali girl
(about 7 hours later)
Dozens of people are being monitored in Mali after the country confirmed its first case of Ebola. Health officials fear many people may have been exposed to Mali's first Ebola victim - a two-year-old girl.
The patient is a two-year-old girl who recently arrived from Guinea, which along with Liberia and Sierra Leone has seen most of the 4,800 deaths. She recently arrived from Guinea, which along with Liberia and Sierra Leone has seen most of the 4,800 Ebola deaths.
However, the Malian health ministry says her condition is now improving. She showed symptoms, including a bleeding nose, while travelling on a public bus through several towns, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has meanwhile announced that hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses should be available in the first half of 2015. Forty-three people, including 10 health workers who came into contact with her, have been identified and isolated.
WHO Assistant Director Dr Marie-Paule Kieny told a news conference in Geneva that five more vaccines would be in the clinical trial stage in January. Two are already being tested on humans. The girl is being treated in the western town of Kayes, after arriving at a hospital on Wednesday testing positive for the deadly virus.
"The pharmaceutical companies developing these vaccines, as well as the ones which are a little bit further along the development path, are committing to ramping up the production capacity to millions of doses to be available in 2015 with hundreds of thousands ready in the first half of next year," she said. "The child's symptomatic state during the bus journey is especially concerning, as it presented multiple opportunities for exposures, including high-risk exposures, involving many people," the WHO said.
Vaccine trials in the worst-affected countries could begin in December, Dr Kieny said. The girl's mother died in Guinea a few weeks ago and the child was then brought by relatives to Mali.
In other developments:
WHO reinforcements
Mali has now become the sixth West African country to be affected by the outbreak, although Senegal and Nigeria have since been declared virus-free by the WHO.
Malian authorities have now quarantined and are monitoring 43 people who have been in contact with the infected girl. They include 10 health workers.
The girl is being treated in the western town of Kayes. A statement from Mali's health ministry said her condition was improving considerably, thanks to good treatment.
She was brought to a local hospital on Wednesday and her blood sample was Ebola-positive.
At the scene: Alou Diawara, BBC Afrique, BamakoAt the scene: Alou Diawara, BBC Afrique, Bamako
People are afraid in Mali's capital, Bamako, but life is carrying on as normal. A few people have stopped shaking hands but physically greeting people is an important part of life in Mali and for most this has not changed.People are afraid in Mali's capital, Bamako, but life is carrying on as normal. A few people have stopped shaking hands but physically greeting people is an important part of life in Mali and for most this has not changed.
Some hotels have placed bottles of anti-bacterial gels at their entrances but for ordinary Malians, gel remains too expensive. The government has been running public information broadcasts telling people to wash their hands with soap. But though soap is not expensive, most still wash their hands with water alone.Some hotels have placed bottles of anti-bacterial gels at their entrances but for ordinary Malians, gel remains too expensive. The government has been running public information broadcasts telling people to wash their hands with soap. But though soap is not expensive, most still wash their hands with water alone.
Many Malians have friends and family in Guinea and several buses and taxis travel between the two countries each day.Many Malians have friends and family in Guinea and several buses and taxis travel between the two countries each day.
With the support of the WHO, Mali's health system has been preparing for an outbreak of Ebola for several months. But there is a culture here of visiting people when they are sick to wish them a speedy recovery.With the support of the WHO, Mali's health system has been preparing for an outbreak of Ebola for several months. But there is a culture here of visiting people when they are sick to wish them a speedy recovery.
This will have to change if Ebola becomes more widespread.This will have to change if Ebola becomes more widespread.
Mali has now become the sixth West African country to be affected by the outbreak, although Senegal and Nigeria have since been declared virus-free by the WHO.
The WHO has three experts in Mali evaluating its ability to cope with Ebola and will send at least four more over the next few days, spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said.The WHO has three experts in Mali evaluating its ability to cope with Ebola and will send at least four more over the next few days, spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said.
The girl's mother died in Guinea a few weeks ago and the child was then brought by relatives to Mali.
With porous borders, countries neighbouring Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are on high alert for possible imported cases of the virus, says BBC Africa health correspondent Anne Soy.With porous borders, countries neighbouring Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are on high alert for possible imported cases of the virus, says BBC Africa health correspondent Anne Soy.
Mayor's assurance In other developments:
Separately, a New York doctor who recently returned from Guinea has tested positive for the disease. Vaccine boost
In New York, Dr Craig Spencer, who treated Ebola patients while working for the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), came down with a fever on Thursday, days after his return, officials say. The World Health Organization (WHO) has meanwhile announced that hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses should be available in the first half of 2015.
WHO Assistant Director Dr Marie-Paule Kieny told a news conference in Geneva that five more vaccines would be in the clinical trial stage in January. Two are already being tested on humans.
"The pharmaceutical companies developing these vaccines, as well as the ones which are a little bit further along the development path, are committing to ramping up the production capacity to millions of doses to be available in 2015 with hundreds of thousands ready in the first half of next year," she said.
Vaccine trials in the worst-affected countries could begin in December, Dr Kieny said.
Ebola virus disease (EVD)Ebola virus disease (EVD)
Ebola special reportEbola special report
He is the first Ebola case diagnosed in New York, and the fourth in the US.
Dr Spencer, 33, left Guinea on 14 October, and returned to New York City on 17 October via Europe. On Tuesday he began to feel tired and developed a fever and diarrhoea on Thursday.
He immediately contacted medical services and was taken to the city's Bellevue Hospital.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said there was "no reason for New Yorkers to be alarmed".
Ebola patients are only infectious if they have symptoms, and the disease is only transmittable through bodily fluids, experts say.
Are you in New York and have you been affected by the issues raised in this article? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukAre you in New York and have you been affected by the issues raised in this article? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk