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Surge in Ebola infections leads to lockdown in eastern Sierra Leone Surge in Ebola infections leads to lockdown in eastern Sierra Leone
(about 4 hours later)
Authorities in Sierra Leone have imposed a two-week lockdown in the eastern district of Kono after health workers uncovered a surge of Ebola infections in the area, where the epidemic was thought to be largely under control.Authorities in Sierra Leone have imposed a two-week lockdown in the eastern district of Kono after health workers uncovered a surge of Ebola infections in the area, where the epidemic was thought to be largely under control.
The worst outbreak of Ebola on record has killed 6,533 people in the three west African countries most affected – Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea – and infected 18,118 people, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.The worst outbreak of Ebola on record has killed 6,533 people in the three west African countries most affected – Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea – and infected 18,118 people, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.
Sierra Leone, with a shortage of treatment centres and trained staff, has overtaken Liberia as the worst-affected nation, and until now the recent spread was believed to be centred on western areas around the capital, Freetown.Sierra Leone, with a shortage of treatment centres and trained staff, has overtaken Liberia as the worst-affected nation, and until now the recent spread was believed to be centred on western areas around the capital, Freetown.
However, the WHO said on Wednesday that it had found bodies piled up at the only hospital in Kono, a district of about 350,000 people bordering Guinea.However, the WHO said on Wednesday that it had found bodies piled up at the only hospital in Kono, a district of about 350,000 people bordering Guinea.
Officials from WHO, the health ministry and US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention discovered that 87 bodies had been buried in 11 days.Officials from WHO, the health ministry and US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention discovered that 87 bodies had been buried in 11 days.
Kono’s Ebola response centre said it was placing the area on lockdown, allowing only essential vehicles in and out and introducing a night-time curfew.Kono’s Ebola response centre said it was placing the area on lockdown, allowing only essential vehicles in and out and introducing a night-time curfew.
Sierra Leone’s government said it was working with the UN in Kono and the Red Cross was setting up a treatment centre there. The remote area has only one ambulance to transport sick people and blood samples for testing.Sierra Leone’s government said it was working with the UN in Kono and the Red Cross was setting up a treatment centre there. The remote area has only one ambulance to transport sick people and blood samples for testing.
In Liberia, medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said it was withdrawing from northern Lofa county, a former Ebola hotspot, after no new patients were recorded at its treatment centre in Foya since 30 October, allowing the centre’s staff to be redeployed.In Liberia, medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said it was withdrawing from northern Lofa county, a former Ebola hotspot, after no new patients were recorded at its treatment centre in Foya since 30 October, allowing the centre’s staff to be redeployed.
Ettore Mazzanti of MSF said efforts to contain the outbreak had been helped by explaining to locals how to avoid Ebola, which is transmitted via body fluids.Ettore Mazzanti of MSF said efforts to contain the outbreak had been helped by explaining to locals how to avoid Ebola, which is transmitted via body fluids.
The Ebola response in Sierra Leone has been dogged by strikes by healthcare staff over pay and working conditions.The Ebola response in Sierra Leone has been dogged by strikes by healthcare staff over pay and working conditions.
Despite government claims that it had reached a deal with junior doctors, Dr Jeredine George, the president of the Junior Doctors’ Association, told Reuters that its members would strike for a fourth day on Thursday.Despite government claims that it had reached a deal with junior doctors, Dr Jeredine George, the president of the Junior Doctors’ Association, told Reuters that its members would strike for a fourth day on Thursday.
They are demanding a specialised Ebola treatment clinic for Sierra Leonean doctors, 10 of whom have died since the outbreak began. The deputy health minister, Madinatu Rahman, has said plans are under way to get such a clinic set up this month.They are demanding a specialised Ebola treatment clinic for Sierra Leonean doctors, 10 of whom have died since the outbreak began. The deputy health minister, Madinatu Rahman, has said plans are under way to get such a clinic set up this month.
On Thursday Mali’s ministry of health said the country no longer had any remaining cases of the Ebola virus as the last patient there had recovered and left hospital.
Six people have died of Ebola in Mali, while two others have recovered. The country is the sixth West African state to be hit during the outbreak.