Deadly Ebola Virus Kills Chief Doctor at Sierra Leone Ebola Clinic

The deadly Ebola virus is killing more and more people, with the doctor in charge of an Ebola treatment centre in Sierra Leone becoming the latest victim of the deadly virus, the country's health chief said on Tuesday.

"Dr Omar Khan died at 2:00 pm," announced the head of Sierra Leone's health services, Brima Kargbo.

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Ebola is caused by a virus via direct contact with body fluids or infected blood. Scientists have identified five types of Ebola or Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus.

Khan was admitted last week into an anti-Ebola treatment facility run by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) after testing positive for the virus.

He had been in charge of the main Ebola treatment centre in Kenema, around 320 kilometres (200 miles) east of the capital Freetown. Three nurses at the facility also died of the disease.

Health Minister Miatta Kargbo called Khan a "national hero", praising his "tremendous sacrifice" in working to save the lives of others.

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Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf revealed a number of steps to contain the outbreak, including stringent medical checks at airports and major trade routes have been put in place.

According to the ministry's latest figures released Tuesday, 489 cases of Ebola have been recorded in Sierra Leone and 159 people have died.

Sierra Leone's President Ernest Koroma has this week visited the towns of Kenema and Kailahun to check on the country's response to the epidemic and meet with patients and medical personnel.

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US authorities warned Monday that the deadly Ebola virus can spread like forest fire, urging travelers to West Africa to take extra precautions amid the largest outbreak in history.

Amid growing concern over the spread of the virus, activists have launched a campaign urging Koroma to cancel an August trip to a US-Africa summit in Washington to deal with the crisis.

Ebola is a form of haemorrhagic fever which is deadly in up to 90 percent of cases.

Sierra Leone Capital Reports First Ebola Victim
First confirmed case of Ebola was reported in a woman in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, who died after her parents forcibly took her from hospital, the health ministry said Sunday.

In addition to Sierra Leone, the virus has swept through Guinea and Liberia and hit Nigeria, leaving at least 670 people dead across the region.

Source-AFP