The Ebola virus continues to spread in Africa. Now, though, the Guinean Ambassador to Liberia, Abdoulaye Dore, has given a new update about the status of the virus within the country, according to All Africa.
Ebola virus can be deadly. It first emerged in 1976 and since then, it's killed about 1,600 people total. It can cause hemorrhagic fever which, in turn, leads to muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea and, in severe cases, organ failure and external bleeding. There's currently no cure for the virus, and it's thought to be spread by the contact of bodily fluids from an infected person, or by handling the bodies of those who have died from the illness.
According to Ambassador Dore, 134 cases have been reported in Guinea since it was first discovered in January of this year. Of these cases, there have been 84 deaths, according to All Africa. In addition, out of these cases, 80 of them were reported of Gueckedou while Macenta recorded 26 cases.
The virus isn't just found in Guinea, though. It's hopped the border to Liberia, according to USA Today. Yet while the virus is deadly, health officials are cautioning the public to stay calm. Because it can only be transmitted through the blood, saliva and sweat of people who are showing symptoms, it's slow to spread.
Even so, other countries are taking precautions. Senegal has closed its border between Guinea in order to make sure that the virus doesn't spread, according to All Africa. That said, the World Health Organization is not recommending any travel restrictions at the moment since they tend to be ineffective.
In addition, both Mali and Ghana recorded their first suspected cases of the disease on Sunday, according to The Washington Post.
