A Liberian has died of Ebola in the first recorded case of the disease since a country at the heart of an epidemic that has killed more than 11,000 people was declared virus-free on May 9 after going 42 days without a new case.
MONROVIA (Reuters) - Liberia confirmed a third Ebola case on Thursday, nearly two months after it was declared Ebola free, and officials said they were investigating whether the disease had managed to lurk in animals before resurfacing.
Dr Moses Massaquoi, case management team leader for Liberia's Ebola task force, said the three villagers who had tested positive for the disease had shared a meal of dog meat, which is commonly eaten in Liberia.
Hoewel het aantal nieuwe ebolagevallen sterk is afgenomen, worden toch nog zo'n dertig mensen per week besmet met het virus, dat sinds vorig jaar in West-Afrika huishoudt. Dat zegt David Nabarro, speciaal gezant voor ebola van de Verenigde Naties.
Volgens de Wereldgezondheidsorganisatie WHO zijn er in totaal 27.600 besmet geraakt met ebola. 11.200 mensen bezweken aan de ziekte. Van de slachtoffers kwam 43 procent uit Liberia.