The worst outbreak on record of the deadly Ebola virus continues to spread in West Africa. To date, there have been more than 1300 confirmed cases, and 729 have died.
The first cases were confirmed in Guinea’s remote southeast early this year. Guinea has reported 460 cases, of which 339 have died. Its neighbor Sierra Leone has reported 533 cases and 233 deaths, and Liberia has reported 329 cases and 156 deaths. Eighty new cases were reported between July 26 and 29.
Liberia says that it will close schools and consider quarantining communities to stop the virus from further spreading.
The one patient reported in Nigeria has died.
South Africa is on high alert. Major airports have installed thermal scanners, and the country’s health ministry says that emergency teams are prepared to respond if a suspected case is identified.