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US Scientists Predict Long Battle Against Ebola

An anonymous reader writes: Despite recent advances in medicine to treat Ebola, epidemiologists are not hopeful that the outbreak in west Africa will be contained any time soon. Revised models for the disease's spread expect the outbreak to last 12 to 18 months longer, likely infecting hundreds of thousands of people. "While previous outbreaks have been largely confined to rural areas, the current epidemic, the largest ever, has reached densely populated, impoverished cities — including Monrovia, the capital of Liberia — gravely complicating efforts to control the spread of the disease. ... What worries public health officials most is that the epidemic has begun to grow exponentially in Liberia. In the most recent week reported, Liberia had nearly 400 new cases, almost double the number reported the week before. Another grave concern, the W.H.O. said, is 'evidence of substantial underreporting of cases and deaths.' The organization reported on Friday that the number of Ebola cases as of Sept. 7 was 4,366, including 2,218 deaths." Scientists are urging greater public health efforts to slow the exponential trajectory of the disease and bring it back under control.

2 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. Re:+-2000 deaths? by Noah+Haders · · Score: 1, Funny

    you never know, ebola could mutate into some superhero bug that gives people big erections.

  2. Re:+-2000 deaths? by pitchpipe · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... ebola could mutate into some superhero bug that gives people big erections.

    Just like your mom.

    --
    Look where all this talking got us, baby.