Ebola spreads in Liberia

The isolation ward at the Donka Hospital in Conakry, where people infected with the Ebola virus are being treated. Picture: Cellou Binani

The isolation ward at the Donka Hospital in Conakry, where people infected with the Ebola virus are being treated. Picture: Cellou Binani

Published Jul 18, 2014

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Monrovia -

The Ebola virus has spread to four additional counties in Liberia, Health Ministry official Tolbert Nyenswah said on Thursday.

That brings the number of affected counties to seven out of a total of 15.

The four new counties are Bong and Bomi in the west, Nimba in the centre and Grand Gedeh in the east of the country.

So far, Ebola had affected mainly western Liberia. Nyenswah said at least 105 deaths have been recorded since the Ebola outbreak in May. The Liberian senate meanwhile said it wanted the lower house of parliament to join it in asking President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to declare a state of emergency.

The senators described the Ebola outbreak as a threat to the livelihood and very existence of Liberians.

Ebola, which has spread through several West African countries in the latest outbreak, causes massive haemorrhages and has a fatality rate of 90 percent. It is transmitted through blood and other body fluids. - Sapa-dpa

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