Prison for hiding Ebola sufferers

Sierra Leone wants prison term for hiding Ebola sufferers

08/24/2014

According to a media report, the hiding of Ebola sufferers is being criminalized in Sierra Leone. With at least two years imprisonment, the hiding of an infected person is punished. For the first time, a Briton living in the African country has been tested positive for the Ebola virus.

At least two years imprisonment

According to a media report, the hiding of Ebola sufferers in Sierra Leone is being criminalized. According to a news agency dpa, the online newspaper reported „Awoko“ on Saturday, that the hiding of an infected person with at least two years imprisonment would be punished. Accordingly, the parliament of the African country had decided on Friday in a special session, a corresponding law. As it is further said, President Ernest Bai Koroma still has to agree to the law.

Extent of the epidemic had been underestimated

Four countries in West Africa are currently fighting the worst Ebola epidemic ever recorded. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the magnitude of the epidemic has been underestimated as many infected people have been hidden by their families. According to this, people assumed that there was no cure for Ebola anyway and that it would be better for the terminally ill to be able to at least die at home. The dangerous infectious disease leads to death in 60 to 90 percent of all cases.

Over 1,400 dead by Ebola

According to the WHO, 1,427 people have died of Ebola since March, 624 of them in Liberia alone. Over 2,600 cases of diseases are known. Because there is no safe cure or vaccine against the disease, physicians typically have to confine themselves to relieving patients of typical Ebola symptoms such as fever, diarrhea or internal and external hemorrhage. Recently, however, great hope has been placed in the new drug ZMapp, although the efficacy of the experimental drug has not yet been clearly established.

First confirmed British Ebola case

Confirmed was now a first Ebola case of a British citizen. On Saturday night, the Department of Health in London reported that the man living in Sierra Leone tested positive for the virus, according to press reports. As health spokesman John Watson said, medical and consular care will be ensured. However, the ministry refused to comment on reports that the infected would be flown to Britain in the coming days. (Ad)