New Ebola cases reported in ‘Ebola-free’ Liberia

MONROVIA, Liberia – After 45 days of no new Ebola cases, Liberian health officials had declared the country Ebola-free in May.

MONROVIA, Liberia – After 45 days of no new Ebola cases, Liberian health officials had declared the country Ebola-free in May. Now there are a number of new Ebola cases reported in that country, one of whom is being treated in the Ebola Treatment Center at SIM’s ELWA campus in Monrovia.

The first case involved a 17-year-old boy, who has since died, according to the Liberian Ministry of Health. The second was transported to ELWA, according John Fankhauser, MD, family physician and SIM’s director of medical missions in Liberia.

The two victims were in the same contact chain. The ministry has isolated the community where the patient stayed, providing food and supplies to them during a 21-day monitoring period.

SIM opened the doors of its 130-acre ELWA campus in the fight against Liberia’s Ebola outbreak in 2014. It housed half of Liberia’s Ebola treatment beds during the height of the crisis. ELWA medical and support staff worked tirelessly to keep ELWA Hospital open and operating when very few hospitals in Liberia were functioning. They treated Ebola patients and maintained other critically needed operations, such as maternity and pediatric care.

“While we hoped and prayed there would not be a recurrence of Ebola, our devoted staff is even better equipped to meet the challenge,” said Fankhauser. “The volume of cases was overwhelming last year. We have remained very vigilant and are committed to continuing to care for patients while protecting our staff.”

A current focus for SIM in Liberia is working with Ebola survivors and those affected by Ebola through specialized medical treatment and trauma-healing workshops for families and others touched by the crisis.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...