By Kemo Cham
The Liberian government has confirmed the death of one person due to the Ebola Virus Disease, effectively marking the return of the deadly ailment to the country.
The unnamed victim, 17, tested positive for the virus in the Margibi County, Tolbert Nyenswah, Liberia`s Deputy Health Minister, said Tuesday.
He said the authorities had commenced the routine contact tracing of all those who may have come into contact with the victim.
The person was confirmed positive before death and had been buried, the minister said.
"There is no need to panic. The corpse has been buried and our contact tracing has started work," Nyenswah was quoted by the news agency Reuters.
The sad news comes more than six weeks since Liberia was declared free of the virus.
Over 11,000 people have died to the Ebola virus in West Africa since it erupted early last year in Guinea and spilled over to Liberia and then Sierra Leone.
According to World Health Organisation statistics, a total of 11,207 people died in the three countries since December 2013 when the disease first broke out. Senegal, Mali and Nigeria have recorded few cases but were able to halt the spread on time.
Liberia was declared free of the virus on May 9 after going 42 days without a new case.
Sierra Leone and Guinea were until now the focus of international concern as they still try to contain the persistent virus.
Margibi is a rural area close to the Liberian capital Monrovia, and it is where the country's main international airport is located.
The news of the reemergence of Ebola in Liberia will certainly come as a disappointment to many but not a surprise, given the persistent nature of the epidemic in the neighbouring countries.
(C) Politico 01/07/15
