Deadly Ebola Virus in Guinea Spreads: 78 Deaths as Senegal Closes Border

Still racing to contain the deadly Ebola virus that has killed 78 people, Guinea is worried that their capital city could witness an unprecedented effect of the disease. As a result, Senegal has closed its border to Guinea until further notice.

Eight cases of the virus have been confirmed in Guinea's capital of Conakry, which has a population of over two million. Health officials fear that the virus will dangerously spread if proper measures and precautions aren't taken. Hundreds of thousands of people in Conakry live in very close quarters, making the virus all the more threatening.

The disease has been mainly concentrated in southern Guinea, but since its first case recorded on January 28, it has spread to the country's northwestern coast and into Conakry. Senegal, one of the six countries in Africa that borders Guinea, has announced that their border will be closed for both those entering and leaving Guinea until further notice. The Senegalese Interior Ministry made the announcement yesterday.

Senegal's southern border features two crossings that are utilized by traders as well as thousands of others from different countries who visit weekly to attend a market that is an integral part of commerce in the region. But Senegal would rather not take the chance of dealing with a deadly viral epidemic after witnessing cases of the virus spread to neighboring Liberia.

Yesterday Liberia confirmed two cases of the Ebola virus in their region, according to the World Health Organization. Health officials examined seven samples of those who were believed to have the virus and two of them tested positive for Ebola. Although the number is small, this is how the outbreak began in Guinea; a few cases of a mysterious fever resulted in deaths and eventually caused 122 cases and 78 deaths.

Sierra Leone is also preparing to protect from the virus, as they've identified suspected cases of the disease after two deaths. Neither tested positive for Ebola, but they remain on the lookout for related ailments that are causing death.

There is no treatment or vaccine for Ebola, so it is important that the spread of the deadly virus is contained or else an epidemic can run ramped through Western Africa. To read more about the Ebola virus in Guinea, visit this Yahoo! News article.