Ebola Virus Outbreak in West Africa Spikes in Recent Days

The World Health Organization released a report on Wednesday about a spike in the number of cases and deaths from the Ebola virus in Guinea. The outbreak slowed in April and the beginning of May, but it has picked back up in recent weeks.

Between May 29 and June 1, Guinea recorded 37 new cases and 21 deaths due to the Ebola virus, which has brought the total to 328 cases (193 laboratory-confirmed) and 208 deaths. Additionally, Sierra Leone witnessed an increase of 13 new cases, but only three have been laboratory-confirmed. Sierra Leone documented their first official cases of the virus just a few weeks ago. The WHO and other international health officials are looking to mitigate the ongoing outbreak.

Also released today, a Scripps Research Institute study found that hemorrhagic fevers can be cause by a body's antiviral interferon response. Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by an infection with the virus of the family Filoviridae. Virologists and immunologists found that Interferon Type I (IFN-I) immune proteins are key drivers of a viral syndrome in mice that resembles hemorrhagic fevers in humans.

As international health officials continue to scramble for answers regarding the outbreak in West Africa, the new Scripps Research Institute study could provide some answers, especially since Ebola is not the only type of hemorrhagic fever - the Lassa virus and Dengue virus also cause hemorrhagic fevers. The Dengue virus is currently making waves throughout the Caribbean where over 55,000 cases have been documented due to transmission from mosquitos.

"Blocking IFN-I signaling in certain genetic mouse strains completely prevented disease signs such as vascular leakage leading to death," said Scripps Associate Professor of Immunology Roberto Baccala, in this news release. "We are now working to determine whether we can target IFN-I itself to treat such conditions or whether we need to target the more specific signals, downstream of IFN-I, that cause pathology."

The first case of Ebola was documented in Guinea back in December and it has since spread to some nearby countries. There has been ample time to mend this situation, but nothing seems to be completely effective. Guinean public figures and health officials were unable or unwilling to comment on the situation. Hopefully the Scripps Research Institute study can help health experts find a solution.