– ‘Overwhelming’ –
One of the deadliest viruses known to man, Ebola is spread only through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person showing symptoms, such as fever or vomiting, or the recently deceased.
Authorities have blamed the failure of Sierra Leone and Guinea to eradicate the virus on people hiding deaths in the family and carrying out unsafe burials that are aiding Ebola’s spread.
Conteh said he had received reports of expert disposal teams demanding up to one million leones ($240) from bereaved families for burials and promised a “full inquiry” to bring the practice to a stop.
According to the WHO, as of June 21 there had been 27,443 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of Ebola in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, of which 11,207 were fatal.
Sierra Leone has seen almost half of the total caseload, reporting more than 3,900 deaths.
People in the worst-hit chiefdoms of Kambia and Port Loko have been confined to their homes until the beginning of August over fears that the disease is also resurgent in the northwest.
The country has also extended until September a nationwide state of emergency. The move restricts public gatherings and other activities that could spread the virus.
Authorities in Kambia said an extra 800 soldiers and 700 police had been deployed to ensure locals respected the regulations.
“There are increased human resources available and the presence of the security forces is overwhelming,” said Alfred Kamara, the district Ebola coordinator, adding that around 600 people had been quarantined in two villages.
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