ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Health → Diseases

Ebola cases drop as food crisis is sparked

livia rusubylivia rusu
January 15, 2015
in Diseases, Health, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

Edible Ebola vaccine for wild apes could revolutionize how we fight the disease
A WHO report says 92% of humans breathe dangerously polluted air
WHO chief warns that the pandemic is ‘far from over’
New Ebola outbreak hits Congo, with five deaths and growing concerns

The World Health Organization reports a drop in the Ebola cases in the three Western African countries hit most by the disease. However, as farmers abandon their fields in the infected areas, a new problem seems to emerge: a food crisis.

Many agricultural fields have been abandoned as people retreat from Ebola. Image via World Bank.

Liberia only reported 48 cases in the past three weeks, but Sierra Leone is still struggling, with 769 new cases over the past 21 days. But even that is a decline compared to previous months.

“Sierra Leone has now reported a decline in case incidence for the second week running, and recorded its lowest weekly total of new confirmed cases since the week ending 31 August 2014,” WHO said.

This is not the first Ebola outbreak ever, but it’s the first time over 500 people were infected in one outbreak. The official number of infections is 21,261, though the likely number is much higher. However, as the number of Ebola cases seems to dwindle down, a new problem starts to emerge – a food shortage.

The International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), a UN body that finances agriculture in poor countries has warned that if quick action isn’t taken soon, a food crisis is set to take place in the area. As early as September 2014 the Liberian government reported that large parts of the rice crop could not be harvested because of a shortage of labor. People are abandoning the infected areas – and for good reason.

“In Sierra Leone, we have information that up to 40% of farms in the hardest-hit areas have been abandoned,” IFAD President Kanayo F. Nwanze told Africa Renewal. In Guinea, similar disruptions in population movements have had “devastating effects on food production and exports”.

Agriculture is one of the main drivers of the West African economy, contributing up to 40% to the total economy. It’s also the main form of subsistence for the poorest people, who have no other way of supporting themselves.

It’s estimated that for the 90,000 households in dire need of help, some $30 million would be needed to alleviate the effects of the upcoming crisis.

Tags: EbolaWest AfricaWorld Health Organization

ShareTweetShare
livia rusu

livia rusu

Livia's main interests are people, and how they think. Having a background in marketing and sociology, she is in love with social sciences, and has a lot of insight and experience on how humans and societies work. She is also focused on how humans interact with technology.

Related Posts

Health

Teen Smoking Plummets Where Tobacco Ads Are Banned

byMihai Andrei
4 months ago
Health

Uganda is struggling to contain outbreak of untreatable Ebola strain. Two vaccine candidates to be deployed

byAlexandru Micu
3 years ago
Health

WHO chief warns that the pandemic is ‘far from over’

byAlexandru Micu
3 years ago
Health

FDA approves first Ebola treatment

byMelvin Sanicas
5 years ago

Recent news

More People Are Dying from Broken Heart Syndrome Than Anyone Realized

May 20, 2025

Everything You Need to Know About Bird Flu

May 20, 2025

This beautiful rock holds evidence of tsunamis from 115 million years ago

May 20, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.