Paolo Conteh, NERC boss
By Mustapha Sesay
Hopes that Sierra Leone was matching towards the World Health Organization (WHO)`s 42 day-benchmark to be declared Ebola-free have been dashed. After seven days without any new case, the National Ebola Response Center (NERC) Wednesday confirmed a new case in Krootown Road, suburb in the center of the capital, Freetown.
NERC`s Chief Executive Officer, Afred Palo Conteh, said the male victim escaped from Moa Wharf after finding out that his lover had been infected with the Ebola virus.
Speaking early Wednesday at his regular press briefing held at the premises of the former Special Court in Freetown, before the case was confirmed by laboratory test later in the evening, the NERC boss expressed fear that there would be a new case and that chances for the victim to survive were minimal. He said they had quarantined two compounds as a result, one on Barwick Street as well as on Krootown road, in a bid to contain the risk of the virus spreading any further.
Conteh also told newsmen that last week the country recorded the lowest number of confirmed cases since the outbreak of the disease in May 2014. He said that trend was an indication that there was progress in the fight.
“We have continued to make steady progress in getting to and staying at zero,” he stated. “What is even more encouraging is the fact that we have gone 7 consecutive days without recording a single case.”
He also told the press that WHO had informed the government that they would only start the zero count after the last patient would have been discharged from treatment centre. He noted that as of now there were only 4 patients in treatment centres across the country, although he did not mention the places where those patients were held.
Conteh said Sierra Leone could only win the fight against the Ebola virus like Liberia did when communities took responsibility and do the right thing. Before then, he said, “we must not relent and be complacent. We must remain vigilant and push on even harder.”
As of now there are over 192 quarantined homes across the country and the bulk of these are in the western urban area, Kambia and Port Loko in the north of the country, the NERC CEO revealed. He said he feared though that some of those in quarantine may turn out to be positive.
Thus the country`s anti-Ebola front man noted that it was important that Sierra Leoneans remained committed to the fight, be honest with case investigators and be vigilant in their communities until all quarantined homes were cleared.
The NERC boss also mentioned that they had not reviewed the Ebola burial Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) contrary to local media report, but he noted that they would communicate any new position on burials when they would have completed reviewing the SOP.
“But as it is now, the safe and dignified burial SOP still stands,” he said.
Conteh also confirmed report that an Italian medic who recently returned home from the country had indeed tested positive upon arrival in Italy. But the NERC CEO said those that traveled with him were not at risk of contracting the virus.
According to international media report, the medic showed signs only days after returning home.
© Politico 14/05/15
