Ebola outbreak: Sierra Leone declares state of public emergency

Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma has declared a public health emergency to curb the deadly Ebola outbreak.

Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma has declared a public health emergency to curb the deadly Ebola outbreak

Ernest Bai Koroma said the epicentres of the outbreak in the east would be quarantined and asked the security forces to enforce the measures.

More than 670 people in West Africa have died of Ebola since February – 224 of them in Sierra Leone, according to the most recent UN figures.

Dr. Sheik Umar Khan, who led Sierra Leone’s fight against Ebola, has died of the virus.

Dr. Sheik Umar Khan, described by government officials as a “national hero”, is to be buried on Thursday.

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