Govt. reports no new case

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare here is reporting that as of Sunday, March 29, 2015, there has been no new Ebola case in Liberia for the past two days since the death of a 44-year-old woman, Ruth Tugbeh, last Friday in a Chinese constructed ETU outside Monrovia.

Madam Tugbeh, who reportedly left over 200 contacts, was confirmed positive a week ago at the Redemption Hospital in the Borough of New Kru Town. The deceased was a well known cooked food vender in Tomsaw community, Caldwell Township a suburb of Monrovia.

However, health authorities say the 200 contacts left behind seem to be decreasing with only 185 currently under surveillance here.

Assistant Health Minister for Preventive Services, and head of the  Government’s Incident Management System, Tolbert Nyenswah, told the  regular press briefing at the Ministry of Information on Monday, 30 March  the 185 contacts under surveillance are people, who are believed to have come in contact with the late Ruth Tugbeh prior to her being tested positive following several medical tests.

Health authorities have confirmed that that victim contracted the virus through sexual intercourse with her boyfriend, an Ebola survivor.

Assistant Minister Nyenswah has called on male survivors across the country to use condoms when having sex with partners even after observing the 90 days abstention period.

The Ebola virus lives in the semen of survivors for up to 90 days during which it is dangerous to have sexual intercourse with a partner, health experts have advised.

By Lewis S. Teh