Ebola treatment centres battling to contain outbreak West Africa’s overstretched Ebola treatment centres are at the heart of efforts to contain the worst-ever outbreak of the virus, staffed by dedicated healthcare workers and medical volunteers, and providing care and support to patients infected with or suspected of having the deadly disease Triage: People arrivingat treatment centre areexamined by medical staffand divided into high or low risk groups Entrance: For people suspected of having Ebola Everyone follows strict paths along marked routes to contain virus Staff entrance Staff put on protectiveclothing before enteringclinic. They work inpairs to check on and assist each other Staff exit Protective clothing taken off slowly and carefully toprevent infection Patient exit Patients clear of Ebola and those who have recovered may leave clinic. They first disinfect themselves and receive new clothes ---------- Low-probability ward Patients who may not haveEbola wait here – for hoursor days – until tests revealif they are infected High-probability ward Patients wait here for testresults if their symptomssuggest they have already contracted Ebola Patients who feel strong enough can walk outside Shower/toilet for patient use Ebola ward: Patients with Ebola are cared forhere until they die orrecover. Although Ebolahas no cure, supportivecare can increasechances of survival Mortuary: Bodies remain highly infectiousand are stored until theycan be buried nearby Double fence: Makes touching impossible sovisitors cannot be infected Entrance barrier Disinfection Decontamination shower Direct entry: Patients who are definitely known to beinfected go directly to Ebola ward on arrival, withoutgoing through triage Protective clothing Equipment includes two pairs of gloves – in caseone layer is perforated – two masks, goggles, thick boots and heavy apron on top of full-body overalls. Some items can be reused after being disinfected, but masks and overallsare incinerated ------------- GUINEA-BISSAU Conakry ATLANTIC OCEAN SIERRA LEONE Bo Monrovia Bong LIBERIA ----- SENEGAL MALI GUINEA Kenema Kailahun Gueckedou Foya COTE D’IVOIRE 200km 125 miles Ebola treatment centres Sources: Medecins Sans Frontieres, WHO, UNOCHA Picture: Associated Press