Ebola spreads to Liberia from Guinea

An Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreak in Guinea has spread to its neighbor, Liberia, according to WHO.

The Liberia Ministry of Health and Social Welfare confirmed that two of seven clinical samples from adult patients from the Foya district in Lofa County, Liberia, tested positive for the virus. There have been two deaths among seven suspected cases in the country — a woman who tested positive and a man who tested negative. Previously, only imported cases had been detected in Liberia and Sierra Leone. So far, cases of infection with Ebola have been limited to the Foya district, located near the southern border of Guinea.

The outbreak, which started in February in Guinea, has affected up to 112 people and killed 70, with a case fatality rate of 62.5%. The species thought to be responsible for this outbreak is the Zaire ebolavirus, which can cause death in up to 90% of clinically ill cases.

Some of the most recent suspected cases of infection in Guinea include two health care workers, suggesting the need for tighter infection control measures in the management of new cases.

According to WHO, health officials in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have launched a coordinated response to the outbreak, which includes case identification, isolation and management; investigating new cases and contacts; and educating health workers and the general public about the risks associated with Ebola.

Currently, WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions as a result of the outbreak.