The Number of Ebola Victims in West Africa Reaches 6,800

The World Health Organization reported that the number of Ebola victims has increased to 6,841 as of Saturday, December 13. According to a report by AFP citing this report, nearly all victims have been from West Africa. The report, published on Monday, December 15, continues to state that so far, 18,464 people have been infected with this dangerous virus in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This report did not provide new statistics on deaths in other countries, but last week it announced that the death toll in Mali, the United States, and Nigeria has remained stable. The latest report from this UN-affiliated agency published in October this year indicated that one person had died in the US, six in Mali, and eight in Nigeria. One person in Spain and Senegal has also been infected with this deadly virus, but no deaths have been reported in these countries. Sierra Leone has surpassed Liberia with the highest number of infections, currently having 8,273 cases, of which 2,033 have died. Liberia, which has reported a decrease in the growth rate of Ebola cases in recent weeks, has had 7,797 cases so far, with 3,290 deaths. Guinea has reported approximately 2,394 cases, with 1,518 fatalities. All three countries are located in West Africa. The report states that so far, 639 individuals who have worked as aid workers for Ebola patients have contracted the virus, with 349 of them having died. Ebola still has no specific and approved treatment or medication, and the treatments and drugs being used against it are in experimental stages. In this context, Time magazine's Person of the Year 2014: 'Ebola Fighters', the first phase of the Ebola vaccine trial is 'promising', the International Red Cross requested $1.7 billion in funding, and the World Health Organization stated that Ebola is spreading rapidly in Sierra Leone.