Surviving Ebola

a string of new human pathogens has been added recently to the popular pantheon of demonology. The Ebola virus is one of the deadliest among these. It resembles the influenza virus in the early stages of infection in terms of its effects, and rapidly induces fever accompanied by shock, diffuse bleeding and the destruction of blood cells (haemorrhagic fever). It causes death in about 70 per cent of infections.

Ancient reactor

THE world's last untouched natural nuclear fission 'reactor' is in the centre of a row between conservationists and a mining company. The reactor was formed naturally two billion years ago, VIken deposits of high-grade uranium ore went critical in what is now Gabon, in western Africa. A group of European scientists is trying to stop the company from digging up the site. There are 15 such reactors in the region and only one of them has escaped mining. The only intact prehistoric nuclear waste site contains "fission products very similar to spent fuel from

GABON

A savage territorial has been sparked off between chimpanzees in the tropical forests of this central African country. Apparently, logging in Gabon's forested area, is responsible for this incident, informed Lee White, a field biologist for one Wildlife Conservation society recently. Gabon, which has an estimated 50,000 chimpanzees, has until recently, accounted for a third to a half of the total African chimpanzee population estimated at 100,000 to 150,000. The recent chimpanzee wars have reduced

GABON

The deadly ebola virus has struck again. It has already claimed 16 lives in Gabon and going by the widespread cases of haemmorhagic fever in the region, the World Health Organization has declared it an epidemic. Of the 18 confirmed cases reported in the first week of the outbreak, 11 had died -- an unprecedented death rate of 61 per cent in the early stages.

GABON

This small republic on the west coast of central Africa stands as a test case for Africa's rainforests which are suffering the fastest rate of logging in the world. Gabon has nearly eighty five per cent of green cover which consists of some of the most diverse tropical forests in the world. These ancient forests shelter over 8,000 plant species, 600 different types of bird and 20 species of primate including endangered species like elephants, gorillas and chimpanzees. All this is now under threat from foreign loggers, mostly European, who fell okoume trees and export them to make plywood.

GABON

Lying at the heart of Africa's largest and last belt of rainforest is the Minkette equatorial forest, which is home to Gabon's pygmies. But environmentalists fear that it may soon become endangered with the onslaught of development. A few dozen miles from the northern Gabonese village of Evela - which is bordered by the equatorial forest - roads are being paved to provide better access to the area. Logging companies in Gabon's capital, Libreville and Europe see a vast Potential in this pristine forest, At

GABON

At least 10 people died recently after a suspected outbreak of Ebola fever in the northeastern region of the country, according to officials of World Health Organization (wm). Ten out of 19 patients admitted to the hospital had shown symptoms of EboW which causes massive haemorrhaging, often leading to death. Apparently, all the patients came frorn'the village of Mayibout and had become ill after eating the meat of a chimpanzee found dead near the village. It is suspected that the virus came from the chimpanzee. It'will be the third appearance of the