Sierra Leone continues to be one of the hardest-hit nations in this current Ebola outbreak. According to two sources, for example, two doctors died of the virus within one day.
These sources, who come from healthcare and the government, these doctors may have been Thomas Rogers and Dauda Koroma. Since these still remain unconfirmed cases-local authorities refused to comment about the rumor-no other information can be obtained on who they are or how they got infected, especially since both didn't work in the frontlines.
According to World Health Organization, the total number of confirmed cases has risen to more than 17,000 with more than 6,000 deaths (adjusted after they miscalculated the death toll in Liberia). Sierra Leone posted around 7,000 deaths. The number is described as stable or declining in Liberia but increasing in Guinea.
Aside from civilians, the virus is also hurting the already vulnerable or weak healthcare system of these West African countries. In Sierra Leone alone, around 106 health workers had already died. Ernest Bai Koroma, the country's president, while speaking in front of the Parliament last this week, called these workers as "greatest patriots" and promised to give $5,000 compensation to the bereaved families.
Although there are different strains of the Ebola virus, the strain that currently haunts West Africa is considered to be the worst. Exposure to bodily fluids such as vomit and blood makes these health workers at a very high risk of infection.
Two doctors, Nancy Writebol and Kent Brantly, who were first treated in the United States were infected of the virus while doing missionary work in West Africa. Two more nurses were diagnosed in the country after treating an Ebola patient who came from Liberia. While the patient died, the two nurses were declared virus free a few weeks after their infection.
