What is Ebola? And how does it spread? Here’s what you need to know August 12, 2014 The deadly Ebola virus has been spreading across west Africa at an unprecedented rate this year, leading to what medical experts have described as the worst epidemic of the disease yet. Yesterday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that 1,013 people have died since this latest outbreak began in February, while the UN reported [...]
Ebola outbreak declared an “international health emergency” by World Health Organisation August 8, 2014 The epidemic of Ebola that is spreading through west Africa has been called an “international health emergency” by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Officials from the organisation, who gathered for an emergency meeting in Switzerland to discuss the outbreak, described the case as “particularly serious” because of the virulence. So far, 930 people [...]
Ebola cure: Tekmira gets go ahead to test new drug on Ebola patients August 7, 2014 The US drug regulator has given the go ahead for pharmaceutical firm Tekmira to test a drug on humans that could be a potential treatment for the deadly and incurable disease. The FDA will allow TKM-Ebola to be used in response to the deadliest ever outbreak of the disease after halting the first phase of [...]
Ebola spreads outside Africa: Suspected victim dies in Saudi Arabia August 7, 2014 A suspected Ebola victim has died at a hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The 40-year-old man suffered from a heart attack after showing Ebola-like symptoms, according to the county's health ministry. He had recently returned from a work trip in Sierra Leone, one of the four countries afflicted with the current epidemic. [...]
African Minerals and London Mining share prices slump as Ebola outbreak fears rise August 5, 2014 Shares in some Sierra Leone-focused miners on the London Stock Exchange plunged yesterday, amid increasing fears over the spread of the largest Ebola outbreak in history. African Minerals saw the biggest decline, falling 18 per cent by market close, while London Mining slumped eight per cent. Neither company’s operations has been affected by the disease [...]
Ebola flight risk mapped: British Airways cancels UK routes August 5, 2014 As the Ebola crisis continues, British Airways has cancelled flights to Sierra Leone and Liberia, cutting off the only direct flights to London. In a statement, the airline said it was unable to continue flights "due to the deteriorating public-health situation" in the area. The situation has intensified recently with new cases reported in Nigeria. [...]
Ebola outbreak sees pharma company Tekmira shares soar over drug hopes August 4, 2014 As the fear of Ebola spreads, shares in one pharmaceutical company rose over 15 per cent in early trading. Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: TKMR) saw its shares rocket on reports the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is willing to work with companies to develop treatments for Ebola. Tekmira had been trialling an Ebola drug in June [...]
Ebola risk: WHO sounds alarm with £59m emergency response package July 31, 2014 The World Health Organisation (WHO) is launching a joint emergency response package with leaders of the African nations that have been hit by the deadly Ebola virus. Details will be revealed tomorrow at a meeting in Guinea: one of the three countries to have suffered at the hands of the current outbreak, which has [...]
Tube travel with an Ebola patient? This scientist says it’s fine July 31, 2014 The scientist who helped discover the Ebola virus has said he’d happily sit next to someone suffering from the deadly and incurable virus on the London Underground. In an interview with the Times, professor Peter Piot said he wouldn't be worried about sitting next to someone with Ebola which is currently sweeping across parts of [...]
Britain can handle Ebola virus threat, says foreign secretary July 30, 2014 Today, foreign secretary Philip Hammond held an emergency cobra meeting with ministers and health advisers to discuss the threat of Ebola to the UK. The current epidemic of the disease, described as the worst in history, has already killed over 670 people in West Africa where it has been spreading since February. It has [...]