With new Ebola death, Sierra Leone region suffer setback
Date
1/17/2016 8:53:29 AM
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) The West African nation of Sierra Leone is re-starting the 42-day countdown to being declared free of transmission of the Ebola virus after a woman died of the deadly virus. It is a setback for the nation after it was declared Ebola free for two months. Health officials are now on the alert for more cases just as the deadliest outbreak on record appeared to be ending.
A 22-year-old woman who died of Ebola isthe country’s newest case. Sidie Yahya Tunis with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation says she was from the northern part of the country.
“They’ve done a preliminary investigation they’ve been able to identify 27 contacts now isolated for further monitoring… and more investigation is being carried out and we’ll continue to bring more info to the public..the more we get” she said.
Tunis says two households are currently under quarantine.
Outbreak just declared over
WHO declared the Ebola outbreak overin West Africa earlier this week after no new cases emerged in Liberia. Liberia Sierra Leone and Guinea were the three countries most affected by the worst Ebola out break in history which began two years ago.
Tunis head of the External Communications Emergency Operation Center adds that people may have started to be too relaxed after the country was announced Ebola free. This latest case may indicate they have gone back to old habits such as washing and touching a dead body. The virus is transmitted through bodily fluids and is most contagious at death.
"It is still preliminary but is highly possible considering the fact that person died at home and was buried in the community so it’s highly likely the body was washed” she said.
More 11000 people died from this latest Ebola outbreak almost four thousand in Sierra Leone.
ByNina DeVries
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.