Fourth UN Staff Member Tests Positive for Ebola

A United Nations staff member in Liberia has been hospitalized after testing positive for the Ebola virus. This is the fourth case of Ebola among the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) personnel. The UN member who tested positive was immediately transferred to an Ebola treatment unit.

Karin Landgren, the special representative of UN chief Ban Ki-moon said, "UNMIL is taking all necessary measures to mitigate any possible further transmission, both within the mission and beyond. The mission had stepped up surveillance to ensure that all people who came into contact with the staff member while symptomatic are assessed and quarantined. The vehicles used to transport the patient and locations they visited while symptomatic are being decontaminated."

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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.

The death toll in Liberia is 3,376 but there has been a clear decrease of new transmissions in the past month.

Source-Medindia

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