West Africa Ebola outbreak nears 900 cases
Jim Wappes
CIDRAP News
Jul 11, 2014
An outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Western Africa that is already history’s deadliest has reached 888 cases, with 44 new infections—and 21 newly reported deaths—the World Health Organization (WHO) said in an update yesterday.
The new EVD infections, which include lab-confirmed, probable, and suspected cases, were reported from Jul 6 to 8. About three fourths of them are in Sierra Leone, which reported 32 new cases. Guinea reported only 1 new case.
In addition, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said today that rumors and denial are fueling the outbreak.
‘Precarious’ situation
Sierra Leone reported 32 new cases and 15 new deaths, the WHO said. Disease activity has been focused in Kailahun and Kenema districts in the southeastern part of the country, both of which border Liberia.
Liberia, meanwhile, had 11 new EVD cases with 4 deaths. Its hot spots are Lofa in the far north, which borders both Sierra Leone and Guinea, and Monserrado on the Atlantic Ocean.
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