Ebola outbreak: British Red Cross deploys delegate to West Africa

The British Red Cross has deployed a health delegate to Liberia in response to the increasing cases of Ebola in the region.

 

The current outbreak started in neighbouring Guinea and has so far resulted in 83 deaths and 127 suspected infections (as of April 02), according to the World Health Organisation.

 

Pete Garratt, British Red Cross disaster response manager, said: “The Red Cross has acted quickly to prepare communities and it is vital people know how to prevent the spread of the virus. 

 

 “Ebola is a highly infectious virus but its spread can be controlled. The British Red Cross health delegate will be an essential part of the response team and will lend their expertise to the efforts.”

 

There is no cure or vaccine for the virus, but its spread can be prevented.

 

There have been two confirmed cases in Liberia and several suspected infections in Sierra Leone.  The Red Cross, working with health authorities and other partner agencies, is stepping up its work in the region to support affected communities. 

 

Volunteers from the Red Cross Society of Guinea are already involved in the collection and removal of dead bodies to limit contamination. A further 100 volunteers are being mobilised to work in the affected regions to step up emergency communication and raise awareness among communities on how to prevent the spread of the virus.

 

The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society has meanwhile, begun sending awareness and preparedness messages to the public; while the Liberia Red Cross Society has started preparedness planning.