The Ebola outbreak ravaged West Africa for more than a year after it started in Guinea in December 2014. Through efforts from health agencies and volunteers, the outbreak has geared towards a decline especially in one of the worst ravaged countries, Sierra Leone. However, after months of no Ebola case recorded, Kailahun district encounters its first Ebola case in months.
Kailahun is Sierra Leone's eastern district and has been one of the worst hit towns in the country. However, in four months, they have no record of new Ebola cases and it almost made them announce their district as Ebola-free.
The recorded Ebola cases hindered and threatened the progress made to stamp out the disease, officials said on Saturday as reported by Reuters. In fact, Kailahun was always cited as an example to the other towns in Sierra Leone due to their success in preventing the spread of the potentially deadly virus.
The victim, a 9-month old baby boy has tested positive for Ebola after his death in the said district. Kailahun was once the epicenter of the outbreak with a whopping 80 infections per week in June. But by the end of December, they recorded zero cases.
Winnie Romeril, spokesperson for the World Health Organization said, "Local and foreign experts have been dispatched to investigate the case after the positive test result."
The infant was treated at the Nixon Hospital in Kailahun for diarrhea but was sent home. However, his health rapidly declined which prompted for readmission and blood transfusion. He succumbed to his illness and was tested for the disease.
Alex Bonapha, the Kailahun district council chairman said, "It was not clear how the boy may have contracted Ebola as both his parents were healthy." He added that the boy must have gotten the virus from blood transfusion or there was a problem with the test.
The blood transfused to the boy was supposedly from his uncle who is now under observation for symptoms of the disease. Bonapha explained, "I am aware of the weakness in the health system which means that the blood transfused into the baby could well not have been the blood that had been donated by his uncle."
The National Ebola Response Centre and the WHO have sent response teams to Kailahun to trace all possible contacts of the baby and to halt any threat for another Ebola outbreak in the district, NDTV reported.
Sierra Leone is one of the countries with most deaths related to Ebola virus. According to the latest report on April 2, 2015 by the WHO, there are 25,228 cases of Ebola and in Sierra Leone alone, 3,810 died.
