Ebola Kills 2 in Yekepa

-fear grips ArcelorMittal employees

Report from Nimba County, says the deadly Ebola Virus has entered the mining town of Yekepa, killing at least two persons. The victims reportedly attended burial ceremony of dead relatives in a Guinean town called Tuo where they contracted the virus.

Health workers in Yekepa told The NewDawn Nimba correspondent that since the outbreak, 58 persons have been quarantined, two of whom are dead. Those being quarantined are said to have all gone for the burial ceremony in Guinea.

The outbreak has created panic among employees of the mining company, Arcelor Mittal, which operates in Yekepa.

As a result of the outbreak of the Ebola Virus in Liberia, ArcelorMittal management had constructed a holding center at the G.W. Harley Memorial Hospital in Sanniquellie and renovated another at the Ganta United Methodist Hospital, which is currently being used as an Ebola Treatment Center for the County.

However, Nimba County has not reported any new Ebola case for the past six months, which leaves many residents panicking after news of the latest infection.

The NewDawn Nimba correspondent said since the virus subsided in the county six months ago, most people have refused to follow preventive measures announced by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, while local authorities in the county have called for the resumption of weekly markets in villages and towns, activities that were previously suspended.

By Franklin Doloquee, Nimba