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Sierra Leone Declares Health Emergency Over Ebola Virus - Reports

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Sierra Leone has declared a public health emergency in order to deal with the worst outbreak of the Ebola virus ever, with epicenters of the outbreak to be quarantined, the country’s President Ernest Bai Koroma said in a statement, Reuters reported.

MOSCOW, July 31 (RIA Novosti) - Sierra Leone has declared a public health emergency in order to deal with the worst outbreak of the Ebola virus ever, with epicenters of the outbreak to be quarantined, the country’s President Ernest Bai Koroma said in a statement, Reuters reported.

Koroma is also reported to have canceled his visit to Washington for a US-Africa summit, due to take place next week, because of the crisis.

On July 30, Koroma addressed the people of Sierra Leone on the Ebola outbreak, outlining the measures that should be taken in order to tackle the disease.

“We are increasing police presence around health facilities to uphold the law and prevent incidents of violence against health workers and vandalization of health facilities. The national effort of patriotic citizens from all regions, all political parties and districts must not be derailed by a misguided few. This country will resist them with the full force of the law, and by God’s grace, we shall prevail,” his address said.

“We have also instructed the police to ensure that all vehicles and their passengers entering and leaving Kailahun and Kenema districts subject themselves to screening by authorities at various checkpoints.”

The same day the US Peace Corps announced that it was temporarily withdrawing its volunteers from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea over fears of the spreading virus.

The agency said it would continue to monitor the situation, with volunteers returning to West Africa. The date of their return is expected to be determined later. At present, there are 130 volunteers in Sierra Leone, 108 in Liberia and 102 in Guinea.

The current outbreak began in southern Guinea in February and spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone since then. The virus is transmitted via contact with the blood or bodily fluids of the infected.

Ebola first appeared in 1976 in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Symptoms begin with a fever, muscle pain and a sore throat, and then escalate to vomiting, diarrhea and internal and external bleeding. The incubation period can be up to 21 days. No vaccine currently exists.

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