Ebola Outbreak in Guinea, Africa

According to Time magazine, 83 have died from the disease Ebola in Guinea, West Africa, and "So far 122 people have been diagnosed in this latest outbreak, in addition to six suspected cases in neighboring Liberia."

""Ebola has killed at least 1700 people since it was first identified in simultaneous 1976 outbreaks in Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, but rarely has it reached urban centers, where cramped quarters can make transmission even easier. Conakry [Guinea's capital] has 13 suspected cases so far..."

"Where does it come from? The Ebola virus only hitches rides with human hosts as an afterthought. Its natural reservoir is thought to be in Africa’s population of wild fruit bats, though it is also prevalent in chimpanzees, gorillas, porcupines and forest antelope. That’s why health officials are encouraging locals to avoid eating so called “bush meat,” or any kind of animal found dead on the forest floor."

Could Ebola make its way to North America? The Time article says people are too ill to travel."One variation of Ebola found in China and the Philippines did make it to a U.S. laboratory via infected macaques, but according to the WHO, no illness or death in humans has ever resulted from that particular strain. Some countries are already taking precautions. Saudi Arabia has announced the suspension of visas for Muslim pilgrims from Guinea and Liberia."

According to Al Jazeera, "Foreign mining firms have locked down operations in Guinea and pulled out some international staff... Five new suspected infections were reported in the last 24 hours, the UN's World Health Organisation (WHO) said, bringing the total to 127."

According to USA Today, "This is the first time an Ebola outbreak has occurred in West Africa. Countries in central Africa, such as Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the virus is endemic, typically see outbreaks every two to three years."

According to a National Geographic article, "Patients normally receive supportive care consisting of balancing their fluids, maintaining oxygen and blood pressure levels, and treating other infections."

Doctors should try at least some natural remedies for dealing with the virus, such as eating and/or drinking garlic, ginger, and potentially curry spices, and potentially other spices and herbs.  Rumor is that garlic mixed with wine warded off the plague in the middle ages. There are foods with anti-viral properties that may help to protect people from the disease. Why try nothing at all?