New Ebola Case Confirmed in Sierra Leone

The Sierra Leone Ministry of Health announced on Friday, January 15, that a new case of Ebola has been confirmed. While disappointing—particularly only one day after West Africa was declared Ebola-free—occasional flare-ups of the virus were always a possibility.

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) remains vigilant and is in discussion with the Sierra Leone health authorities about any support MSF can provide. Emergency teams are on standby and ready to deployed.

Sierra Leone was declared free of Ebola on November 7, 2015. MSF played a key role in treating people who suffered from the virus and continues to provide medical and psychosocial services to some of the country’s 4,051 Ebola survivors in Freetown and Tonkolili district. MSF also maintains an emergency response capacity in the country.