Liberia’s medical chief in isolation

Liberia’s chief medical officer, who is also a deputy health minister, has put herself in quarantine as a precaution against ebola after one of her assistants died from the disease.

Bernice Dahn is the latest senior West African medical official to be directly affected by the outbreak which has killed over 3,000 people as it spreads across most of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

“She has placed herself under self observation due to the fact her special assistant contracted the virus,” Isaac Jackson, Liberia’s deputy information minister, told Reuters.

Jackson said the government praised Dahn’s decision to come forward to be monitored after potentially coming into contact with the disease.

“If everyone were to do what Dr Dahn has done, Liberia would be free of ebola,” he said.

The latest figures from the World Health Organisation show the worst outbreak of ebola on record has killed at least 3,091 people, out of 6,574 probable, suspected, and confirmed cases.

Liberia has recorded 1,830 deaths, around three times as many as Guinea or Sierra Leone, the two other most affected countries. Nigeria and Senegal have had confirmed cases.

Already weak national health care systems in West Africa have been over-run by the disease.