Originally published April 1, 2014
The West African state of Guinea is facing an unprecedented ebola outbreak which has already caused the deaths of 78 people since January.
"We are facing an epidemic of a magnitude never before seen in terms of the distribution of cases," Mariano Lugli, a co-ordinator for the aid group in Guinea was quoted as saying by the BBC.
"This geographical spread is worrisome because it will greatly complicate the tasks of the organisations working to control the epidemic."
Cases have been reported in areas that are hundreds of kilometres apart, BBC reported.
The ebola virus is transmitted to humans from wild animals and spreads among humans via close contact and bodily fluids. It kills between 25% and 90% of those infected.
According to the BBC, the disease has now spread to neighbouring Liberia which has recorded seven suspected and confirmed cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
One of the four people who died from ebola in Liberia was a woman, returning from Guinea, BBC reported.
Liberian government has advised people to stop shaking hands and kissing to contain the spread of the disease. It has also advised against sexual contact.
Outbreaks of Ebola occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests, the WHO says.
The virus is one of several viral hemorrhagic diseases found in Africa, which include Ebola hemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and yellow fever.
No specific treatment or vaccine is available for use in humans or animals.
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