Sierra Leone records new Ebola case, second in less than a week

Sierra Leone has confirmed a new case of Ebola on Wednesday, its second in less than a week.

Health ministry spokesman Sidi Yahyah Tunis described the new patient as a 38-year-old woman, a relative who had helped care for the earlier victim Mariatu Jalloh.

Meanwhile, Sierra Leone authorities say all persons placed in quarantine will be vaccinated, following the recent Ebola death.

“Vaccination began Tuesday” in the localities in the north where the victim, a student of 22 years, Marie Jalloh, went before his death on January 12,” head of medical services of Sierra Leone, Brima Kargbo said. The Ebola vaccine VSV-EBOV, has already been tested in Guinea ,one of the three worst affected countries.

Specialists say the vaccine is the first to have been proven effective.

The operation will last “until all the contacts( that is the people who may have had contact with confirmed cases) be vaccinated” in the various areas concerned, Dr. Kargbo added .

The vaccine has been administered to 22 people in Magburaka, Kambia five (north) and an unknown number in Lunsar (north) where the deceased was habitually resident student, since Tuesday.