Sierra Leone records 5th Ebola case

The National Ebola Response Center (NERC) of Sierra Leone reported Friday of another case of positive Ebola infection in the Sellakafter village in Kambia district, north of Sierra Leone.

This brings number of people who have been infected with the disease to five for the past week.

Disclosing this to Xinhua in a telephone interview, the Communication Officer and spokesman for NERC, Sidi Yayah Tunis, said all the cases are relatives of the 67 year old lady who died of Ebola about two weeks ago in the village.

Tunis explained that "the victim was among a number of high risk cases quarantined in the village" and "took part in the washing and burial of the late lady." Tunis pointed out that one good thing is that "all the infected people are coming from those under quarantine and not outside the quarantine home."

The CEO of NERC, Pallo Conteh told a local radio station that the new cases could be attributed to "stubbornness on the part of the relatives who failed to report to the appropriate authorities until it was very late."

He spoke of the proactiveness of the district Ebola team in fishing the lady when she died and was proved positive of the Ebola virus before she was buried. He warned all business houses and restaurants that those who do not conform to the Ebola restrictions will be shut down and remain shut down until the end of Ebola.

Sierra Leone is now in the 15th month in the fight against Ebola much as "we are winning the war but the fight is daunting and tough", said Pallo Conteh. Endit