New Ebola cases hit 5

Deputy Health Minister Dr. Francis Ketter has disclosed that the new Ebola cases in Liberia have risen to five, following the death of a 17-year-old boy on June 24th in Margibi County.

Dr. Ketter said among the five new cases in Margibi County, four are currently in the Ebola Treatment Unit or ETU, while one victim had died since.

Speaking at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism’s regular press briefing Thursday in Monrovia, the deputy health minister and chief medical officer further detailed that as a result of increasing contacts, 120 persons have been placed under precautionary observation with 11 on high risk.

He however assured that despite the emerging cases, the Government of Liberia is in total control of the situation so there’s no need for residents to panic.

Of the eleven persons, four are suspected positive. Health practitioners here are exerting all efforts to contain and eradicate the virus.

Dr. Ketter urged media practitioners covering the Ebola virus to exercise professionalism and be guided by ethics, observing that over the time; some media practitioners take advantage of the situation by taking photos of nude patients and reporting unbalance stories.

He said while it is true the media should unearth happenings in the country especially, Ebola Virus related information, photographing, video typing and reporting stories that are not true could create unnecessary panic.

“We have trained health workers, facilities and history of how to handle Ebola related cases. Besides, our international partners are being helpful in the process of eradication of the deadly virus.”

About week ago, a 17-year-old boy died in Smell No Taste, Margibi County after he tested positive of Ebola Virus Disease, but community residents claimed the victim ate a poisoned dead dog, which led to his death, contrary to official report from the government. By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor – Editing by Jonathan Browne