Ebola Alert: New Ebola Case Reported In Sierra Leone, One Dead While 27 Feared Exposed

In October 2015, we reported that Ebola could once again become a global health emergency if the world goes back to sleep, thinking it has successfully eradicated the deadly disease.

The Ebola disease was first reported in the West African country of Guinea in December 2013. It soon spread quickly to Sierra Leone and Liberia. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as at January 13 2016, the disease has killed 11,315 people. And the most affected countries are Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

WHO said in October 2015 that it has been able to bring the disease under control. And in January 14 2016, WHO again declared the three most affected countries Ebola-free.

But less than 24 hours after this declaration, health officials in Sierra Leone confirmed on January 15 that a new Ebola death has been recorded in the country. The Victim, Mariatu Jalloh is said to have fallen sick in early January. The death was reported in the northern town of Magburaka.

An unnamed Ebola Test Centre spokesman in the town told the BBC in an interview that tests on Mariatu proved positive.

The BBC’s reporter in Sierra Leone, Umaru Fofana wrote on his Facebook page that local residents in the town are angry with the health authorities. Mariatu is said to have been discharged from hospital, and she later died in the house. Her family members washed her and prepared her for burial, not knowing that she had died of Ebola. The Ebola disease mainly spread through contact with the affected person.

On Saturday morning, Fofana wrote on his Facebook page “Unknown people last night attacked two ‪#‎Ebola-quarantined homes in Magburaka, ‪#‎SierraLeone dismantling the barricade, according to Paramount Chief Masakma III. A hut in front of the chief’s house was set on fire. It comes after the first confirmed case of the virus in the country in over two months. Angry protesters in the town yesterday challenged the authorities accusing them of lapses. They demanded an explanation as to how the 22-year-old woman could have been discharged from hospital without proper diagnosis and later died at home. Her body was also released to the family for burial.”

It is said health officials are now urgently looking for those who had come into contact with Mariatu due to the breach of safety measures. It is believed some 27 people came into contact with her before she was buried. Close to 4,000 people are said to have died of the disease in Sierra Leone.

Liberia was the last country to see the end of active transmission of Ebola. But it had been declared clear twice before, only for the infection to re-emerge.

Ebola was first recorded in sub-Saharan Africa in 1976. At that time, the outbreak happened in Central Africa. But due to lack of health facilities and experts, the first recorded cases in West Africa in December 2013 were mistaken for a normal fever, which is common in West Africa. This allowed the disease to spread and go unrecognized for several months.

However, the world would wake up to the reality of the disease only after aid workers and volunteers from western countries contracted the disease. That was when the world, particularly leaders in the Western world, realized the disease has no boundary.

The United States recorded only four cases of the disease; however, this story became the major headline in the mainstream media. President Obama even made the statement, “Ebola is spiraling out of control,” during a global call for action against the disease. That was the moment WHO and other aid organizations started organizing emergency meetings with world leaders to solicit support to combat the disease.

Ebola Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and breakdown of central nervous system. The disease is said to spread by body contact, and fluids such as blood or saliva of the affected person.

Fatality rate is said to be around 90% but current outbreak has a mortality rate of about 55% and incubation period is 2 to 21 days. There is no proven vaccine or cure as at now, but supportive care such as re-hydrating patients who have diarrhea and vomiting can help recovery.

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