By Abba Gwale
Health officials in Guinea on Sunday confirmed that at least three people have died from Ebola, the first cases declared since it was one of three West African nations to fight the world’s deadliest Ebola epidemic that ended five years ago.
An additional four people are confirmed with Ebola, according to a statement from the ministry of health.
All seven positive cases attended the funeral of a nurse in Goueke on Feb. 1 and later showed Ebola symptoms including a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, said the ministry statement.
The government has declared an Ebola epidemic and started contact tracing and isolating suspected cases. It’s also sent an emergency team to support local teams in Goueke and has accelerated the procurement of Ebola vaccines from the World Health Organization.
The patients were tested for Ebola after showing symptoms of hemorrhagic fever and those who came in contact with the sick are already in isolation, said officials.
Guinea’s announcement comes one week after eastern Congo confirmed it also had cases. The cases are not linked.
