Ebola cases fall sharply in Sierra Leone

Gravemarkers at a cemetary at the Kenama, Sierra Leone Ebola treatment center. (Francisco Leong, AFP)

MAIL&GUARDIAN    by Emma Farge and Umaro Fofana                                            Jan. 21, 2015

A military-style operation to fight Ebola in Sierra Leone has helped dramatically reduce new cases in what health officials say is a major step towards defeating the deadly disease.

Since it was launched about a month ago, the operation has doubled the number of ambulances for patients in the densely populated west of Sierra Leone, the worst-affected country where more than 3 000 people have died.

 Aid workers have reported success in changing behaviour in rural areas, notably discouraging people from burial rituals involving direct contact with the dead, a major source of transmission.

As a result, transmission of the haemorrhagic fever has slowed sharply in the West African country, which has recorded more than 10 000 cases since May. There were just 184 new cases in the week to January 11, the lowest in five months.

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