EBOLA vrs AFCON

                                            
         
                            EBOLA vrs AFCON

The Africa Cup of Nations, officially CAN (French: Coupe d'Afrique des Nations), also referred to as African Cup of Nations, African Nations Cup, or AFCON, is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been held every two years. The title holders at the time of a FIFA Confederations Cup qualify for that competition.
The government of Ghana has confirmed the receipt of a letter from the Confederation of African football to be on standby to host the next African Cup of Nations.
Youth and Sports Minister Mahama Ayariga told Citi News in an exclusive interview that the football governing body saw Ghana as one country with a potential to quickly host the showpiece.
The current outbreak in West Africa is being spread from person to person. Healthy people are getting the disease through direct contact with body fluids from sick people. So, people that live in countries in Africa that are very close to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone - countries where the outbreak is extensive and uncontrolled -  are at higher risk for infection because of their physical proximity to sick people. The porous nature of some borders in the area also increases the risk of international spread within Western Africa.
Countries that are farther away from the Ebola-affected countries are at lower risk for an Ebola outbreak, due to geography and the fact that there are no Ebola patients in these countries to spread the disease. The World Health Organization’s risk assessment states: "The risk of spread to travellers to additional countries in the region is high (ie countries bordering on/near Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone); in the subregion is moderate, and overseas is low." As Public Health England points out, "Although there have been several previous outbreaks of Ebola, exportation of the virus from an outbreak to a non-endemic country has historically been an exceptionally rare event, and has never occurred in Europe." That still stands, there have been no imported  cases in Europe, though an infected missionary who was intentionally evacuated to Spain did go one to infect one of his nurses. This was the first time Ebola moved from person to person outside Africa. This does not represent community spread; the nurse in Spain was at high risk for infection because she was participating in a high-risk activity (see definitions below). 
 What is a "high risk exposure"?
Certain behaviours place a person at higher risk for getting infected with Ebola. Some examples are caring for an ill person, preparing the body of an Ebola patient for burial, and sharing a bed with an ill person. Other risky activities include attending the funeral of an Ebola patient, touching their bodily fluids, or handling or eating meat from a sick or dead animal. Healthcare professionals caring for Ebola patients face specific risks and must use proper personal protective equipment.

In theory, fruit could spread Ebola if it has been contaminated by bats carrying Ebola virus. As always, do not eat fruit that appears to have been bitten by an animal. Choose fruit and vegetables with intact skin. Wash with clean water before eating.

  The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has expressed its displeasure over government’s decision  to consider the request by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for Ghana to host the 2015 African Cup of Nations should Morocco withdraw as hosts.

The Director of Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), Prof. Kwadwo A. Koram has cautioned Ghana against entertaining the idea of hosting the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2015) as the Ebola death toll rises.

With the deadly virus spreading like a wild fire in some West African countries, the initial host country, Morocco has notified the continental football body, CAF, that it can only host the tournament if it is postponed