Freetown: As many as 46 people have died of the Ebola virus in the West African state of Sierra Leone, a senior government official said.
“There are now 163 confirmed cases of Ebola while 15 patients have been discharged from the government hospital in Kenema,”said Brima Kargbo, chief medical officer in the health ministry. Kargbo said most of the affected are “close relatives of those who have died from the disease”, adding that 142 out of the 163 cases are from the Kailahun district.
The disease spreads by coming into contact with others. The affected people are aged between three and over 60 years, the official said, adding: “If only people report to hospitals without delay, their chances of survival are high.”