The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak has increased both in cases and fatalities during recent days according to the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa today.  Between 18 – 20 July 2014, 45 new cases and 28 deaths were reported from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Ebola virus/CDC
Ebola virus/CDC

The new EVD cases and deaths can be broken down as follows: Guinea, 5 new cases and 4 deaths; Liberia, 28 new cases with 11 deaths; and Sierra Leone 12 new cases and 13 deaths. These numbers include laboratory-confirmed, probable, and suspect cases and deaths of EVD.

Since the outbreak began six months ago through July 20,  the cumulative number of cases attributed to EVD in the three countries stands at 1,093, including 660 deaths.

The distribution and classification of the cases are as follows: Guinea, 415 cases (304 confirmed, 98 probable, and 13 suspected) and 314 deaths (204 confirmed, 98 probable, and 12 suspected); Liberia, 224 cases (77 confirmed, 68 probable, and 79 suspected) and 127 deaths (56 confirmed, 44 probable, and 27 suspected); and Sierra Leone, 454 cases (405 confirmed, 35 probable, and 14 suspected) and 219 deaths (182 confirmed, 32 probable, and 5 suspected).

News from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone Facebook page today notes that the country’s top Ebola doctor, Dr. Shiekh Umar Khan is still alive and responding to treatment contrary to social media report of his demise.

Earlier today, Reuters reported that Khan hailed as a “national hero” by the health ministry, had contracted the very serious viral disease. Dr. Khan, a virologist,  is reportedly being treated at a facility run by medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page