Health officials are racing to contain a deadly Ebola epidemic in Guinea, with one neighbouring state closing its borders and two others reporting cases amid warnings of a "serious threat" to the region.
Senegal on Saturday said its border crossings to Guinea would be closed "until further notice", while neighbours Liberia and Sierra Leone have reported suspected cases of the disease.
Guinea said on Saturday the number of suspected cases of Ebola stood at 111, with 70 deaths. Most cases were in the southern forested areas but eight cases had been confirmed in the capital, Conakry, with one death.
The World Health Organisation said neighbouring Liberia had reported six of eight suspected cases of Ebola feverhad resulted in death, while Sierra Leone had reported six suspected cases, five of them fatal.
All of these reported cases had recently travelled to Guinea, the WHO said.
Aid pledge
The EU pledged $690,000 to fight the outbreak after a plea from the Economic Community of West African States, which described the outbreak as a "serious threat to the region".
No treatment or vaccine is available for Ebola, a highly infectious and virulent disease which can cause uncontrollable bleeding. The Zaire strain detected in Guinea, first recorded 38 years ago in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, has a 90 percent death rate.
It can be transmitted to humans from wild animals, and between humans through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids or the unprotected handling of contaminated corpses.
The Doctors Without Borders group said the spread of the disease was being exacerbated by people travelling to funerals in which mourners touch the bodies of the dead.
Latest Stories
-
Paramount Chief of Gwollu reported dead
10 mins -
Papaase residents kick against alleged plans to mine on River Kantango
22 mins -
Paris Olympic hopes hang in the balance as Ghana’s 4×100 relay team drops baton at World Relays
4 hours -
Western Regional House of Chiefs commends Bawumia for his humility and respect for traditional authorities
5 hours -
#JustTurned18: First-time voters critical to deciding 2024 presidential election
6 hours -
Video: EC lied that the cost per voter in 2020 was $7.7; it was $12.5 – Bright Simons
7 hours -
Former IGP passes on
7 hours -
Ejisu by-election: Kwadaso MP gave money to EC officials out of goodwill – Ahiagbah
7 hours -
Millennium City: Land owner breaks silence on fatal shooting of soldier
7 hours -
Photos of 2024 Aboakyer Festival
8 hours -
#JustTurned18: I now have an opportunity to use my thumb to bring someone into power – Excited prospective voters
8 hours -
OSP acted as a whistleblower transferring Cecilia Dapaah’s case to EOCO – Sammy Darko
8 hours -
IMF calls for tariff adjustment for energy sector cost recovery
8 hours -
Samson’s Take: Journalists, block the pretentious idiots
10 hours -
Real Madrid crowned LaLiga champions after Barcelona’s defeat at Girona
10 hours