Mali with 500 mile-long border (in red) With Guinea
# 9310
While it doesn’t tell us anything more than we already knew, a statement has been posted on Mali’s MOH website (http://www.sante.gov.ml) that confirms the media reports of last night indicating a nurse had died from Ebola at a clinic in Bamoko after treating a patient from Guinea roughly 2 weeks ago.
Unlike Mali’s earlier case – that of a 2 year-old from Guinea who died in October – this case represents a local transmission of the virus. There are media reports (unconfirmed) that a doctor at the clinic where this nurse worked who is also sick, and a large scale epidemiological investigation is underway.
Mali – a landlocked nation of more than 16 million people– shares a 500 mile-long border with Guinea and is highly dependent upon the ports of neighboring nations (like Guinea, Senegal & Cote D’Ivoire) to handle their import needs.
In late October the government of Mali reiterated their decision to keep their borders open with Guinea, even after their first imported Ebola case was revealed, with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita saying it would be impossible to completely seal his country off from Ebola in neighboring Guinea.
With few exceptions, political borders around the world are more theoretical boundaries than practical ones, and are rarely an effective physical deterrent to the spread of infectious diseases.
Which means that the longer that Ebola rages in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia the greater the chances are for it to seep into neighboring countries like Mali, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau.
(translation)
Ebola: new confirmed case in Bamako
As part of the fight against Ebola virus disease in the country, health services conducted Monday, November 10, 2014 to investigate a health worker reported having had contact with a patient from Guinea made charge by a private clinic located in Commune IV in Bamako District.
During the investigation, a blood sample was taken Monday, November 10, 2014 on the subject. The results of the analysis of the samples were positive to Ebola Tuesday, November 11, 2014. The Mali and knows his second case of Ebola virus disease.
While her care were administered agent aged 25 health years sadly passed away Tuesday, November 11, 2014.In these painful circumstances, the Government extends its condolences to the bereaved family and reminds the public that hygiene measures enacted remain effective means of disease prevention.
The Government assures that according to the protocol of care for patients Ebola virus in force, all measures are taken to identify the persons who had contact with the deceased. The premises of the private clinic who supported and the patient's home has been completely disinfected and placed under observation.
The Government informs the public that the health services, with the support of partners are hard at work to prevent the spread of the virus from this case linked to imported cases of Guinea.
It invites the population to remain calm, serenity but also and especially to the vigilance and compliance with hygiene measures enacted in the area.
Following the guidance of the President of the Republic, the Government of the Republic of Mali to thank all its partners for their assistance in his fight against this disease, reminds people to avoid unnecessary trips to the epidemic areas and observe hygiene measures and safety regulate the matter.Bamako, November 12, 2014
Updated Wednesday, November 12, 2014 11:05
