AFRICA/SIERRA LEONE - A second case of Ebola has been confirmed in Sierra Leone

Kambia (Agenzia Fides) - A new case of Ebola has been confirmed in Sierra Leone, the second since west Africa celebrated the end of the epidemic last week. The new case involved a relative of a 22-year-old student who died of Ebola on January 12, after travelling from the district of Kambia, to the border with Guinea, up to Tonkolili, where she was buried without following safety procedures (see Fides 16/01/2016). According to information of the NGO Doctors with Africa Cuamm, sent to Agenzia Fides, the contagion of the new case is probably due to the failure to follow safety procedures. In fact, the relative of the victim, had helped wash the victim’s body to prepare it for burial, and came into contact with the virus. "These days, we will realize the real size of the new outbreak" refers Matteo Bottecchia, Cuamm representative in Sierra Leone. The situation is very delicate at the moment: before dying in fact the young woman had travelled by public transport, met relatives and friends. A report published by the World Health Organization estimates that the woman came into contact with 256 people before dying: of these, 42 people are at high risk of infection. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 22/01/2016)

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