The number of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) fatalities in Sierra Leone rose by 121 from Oct. 4th to 5th, according to data released by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone.
On Saturday, Sierra Leone reported 557 cumulative confirmed deaths and on Sunday, 678 deaths were reported.
The total number of EVD cases seen in the West African country stood at 2,416. The cases breakdown is as follows: Kailahun = 531, Kenema = 431, Kono =23 ,Bombali =294, Kambia =21, Koinadugu =0, Port Loko =340, Tonkolili = 86, Bo = 111, Bonthe = 1, Moyamba = 66, Pujehun = 22, Western Urban = 290 and Western Rural = 200.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of Oct. 1, there has been 7470 (probable, confirmed and suspected) cases and 3431 deaths reported in the current outbreak of EVD by the Ministries of Health of Guinea, and Sierra Leone, and up to the end of 30 September by the Ministry of Health of Liberia.
In related news, Canada has deployed a second mobile laboratory and team Saturday to the district of Kailahun in eastern Sierra Leone, near the borders of Guinea and Liberia, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The second mobile lab team will work with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to monitor the effectiveness of infection prevention procedures such as handwashing stations, face masks and disposal sites to prevent the further spread of Ebola.
Related: Ebola’s cousin, Marburg virus, kills one, 80 monitored in Uganda
On-site laboratory support that produces results in only a few hours is pivotal in responding effectively to an outbreak of Ebola, as it allows for faster isolation of Ebola cases and patient care. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
