UN says a staff member, who had been quarantined
since last Tuesday, died of the deadly virus in Sierra
Leone.
A UN staff member in Sierra Leone has died of Ebola,
the third employee to succumb to the deadly virus,
the organisation has said.
A statement by UN Women said Edmund Bangura-
Sesay, a local driver for their office in Sierra Leone,
died on Saturday.
The statement said Bangura-Sesay was quarantined
last Tuesday after his wife showed symptoms. It said
his wife remained under treatment, and that the UN
was working to make sure that everyone who came
into contact with Bangura-Sesay while he had
symptoms was assessed and quarantined.
A Sudanese UN medical official who caught Ebola
while working in Liberia died last week in a German
hospital. The volunteer medic was the second
member of the UN mission, known as UNMIL, to
contract and succumb to the virus.
In total, more than 4,500 people have died and nearly
10,000 have been infected with the hemorrhagic
fever, most of them in West Africa, since the start of
the year.
On Monday, the US issued stringent new protocols
for health workers treating Ebola victims, directing
medical teams to wear protective gear that leaves no
skin or hair exposed when caring for patients
infected with the virus.
Under the new protocols, Ebola healthcare workers
must undergo special training and demonstrate
competency in using protective equipment designed
to prevent their exposure. Use of the gear, now
including coveralls, and single-use, disposable
hoods, must be overseen by a supervisor to ensure
proper procedures are followed.
'Nigeria Ebola-free'
Health officials have warned that the Ebola outbreak
could escalate and become a global threat if efforts
to contain the virus are not stepped up.
Positive news emerged, however, earlier on Monday
as the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared
Nigeria Ebola-free, after a 42 day period with no new
cases.
Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa, reporting from Abuja, said
the news had been welcomed by Nigerians.
"The average Nigerian is relieved ... a lot of people
have been quite scared. Officials want people to
celebrate but to remain cautious.
"Nigeria is a transport hub, and the virus can be
brought back, and this is why officials are not taking
any chances," Mutasa said.
Nigeria was the second country in West Africa to be
declared Ebola free in the past week. On Friday, the
UN health agency declared Senegal free of Ebola
after it passed the 42 day landmark.

m.aljazeera.com/se/2014102017928949662

R.I.P