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| President Ellen Johnson Sierleaf New Ebola Worry |
Having ravaged Southern Guinea for the past few weeks killing over 60 people, the highly deadly and contagious Ebola hemorrhagic fever caused by the dreaded Ebola virus has been confirmed in the neighboring republic of Liberia.
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| Liberian Information Minister Brown Earlier denied Ebola in Liberia |
World Health Organization (WHO) sources state that as of this Saturday March 29, 2014, seven specimens taken from individuals in Foya Kama in Lofa County, which borders Guinea and Eastern Sierra Leone, were tested for Ebola with two of the tests coming back positive. Among the suspected cases, there has already been two confirmed deaths from the outbreak.
The World Health Organization reports that blood work from a 35 year woman who died on March 21st tested positive for Ebola, as well as that from a 27 year old male patient who died on Thursday March 27th. As of now no cases of Ebola have been reported outside of Foya which shares boundaries with Kailahun District in Eastern Sierra Leone.
The Liberian authorities are collaborating closely with the world health organization and other health care NGOs to get a lid on the outbreak and restrict it's proliferation across the country. Already those who were in close contact with the confirmed cases have been isolated and rapid training in Ebola Virus management is being provided to workers at the Foya Hospital.
Health Care works from around the country are also being provided specific training in the identification and management of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF)
The government of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has set up a high level National Task Force to coordinate the response to the outbreak and provide leadership and a disease management strategic plan. The International Red Cross and other agencies are also actively involved in the response to this emerging catastrophe.
Based on current information, the World Health Organization is advising the governments of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia to avoid imposing travel restrictions at the moment. However, each government is warned to be extremely vigilant.
Compiled From WHO reports.
Sheku Sheriff
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