Samples from the corpse of a 67-year-old woman who died in the Sierra Leonean North western ‘Kambia’ district last week have tested positive for the Ebola virus disease.
According to Margarette Lamunu the WHO technical coordinator, the said woman was treated at home in Kafta village before her death and was safely buried on the 29th of August. Hence, more cases are expected.
This recent set back has occurred less than a week after the last known Ebola patient in Sierra Leone was discharged from a hospital last Monday.
Dr. Margaret Harris, the WHO spokesperson in a statement said that "It's a step back and a disappointment, but it wasn't a surprise as it's near the border with Guinea, where cases remain.”
She also said that further transmission can be stopped. And that once the ongoing investigations reveal the source of the transmission and contact tracing is done a vaccination trial will begin in Northern Sierra Leone.
A team has been sent to the village and ten high risk contacts have already been identified and isolated. Efforts are also being made to reduce and stop further transmission.
It is still being determined whether or not the village will be quarantined.
Authorities have counseled that people should "remain calm and not be frustrated over the development."
The deceased had no travel history to either Liberia or Guinea the two other most affected nations prior to the occurrence.
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