The deadly virus has once again emerged in Liberia, the country hardest hit by the most recent outbreak. The latest case comes amid a new flare-up in Guinea, where over a thousand contacts are being monitored.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Jallanzo
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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday confirmed a new "positive case" of Ebola days after it declared the sweeping outbreak over in West Africa.
"Lab results confirm a new case of Ebola virus disease in Liberia - a 30-year-old woman who died yesterday afternoon while being transferred to a hospital in the capital, Monrovia," the WHO said in a statement.
The Geneva-based UN body reiterated its position that the deadly virus no longer posed a public health crisis threatening the globe. However, it warned that new cases might present themselves.
"But WHO reiterated that additional flare-ups of the disease are expected in the months to come, largely due to virus persistence in some survivors, and that the three countries must remain on high alert and ready to respond," the statement added.
In January, UN health officials for the second time declared Liberia free of Ebola after the country suffered the most fatalities from the outbreak.
Stigmatized - life after Ebola
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Monitoring Guinea
Earlier this week, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan announced that the virus "no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern."
However, Guinean authorities announced mid-March that the virus had resurfaced, resulting in the deaths of two people and prompting concerns of a wider fallout.
The UN body said at least 800 out of over 1,000 people who came in contact with eight Ebola-positive persons were vaccinated and being monitored, adding that 182 were considered high-risk contacts.
The Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa began late 2013 in Guinea, with 28,646 cases reported as of March 27 this year, according to WHO figures. Over 11,000 people have died from the virus.
Liberia's Ebola survivors
The current Ebola outbreak, the worst ever, has claimed more than 5,000 lives in West Africa. Among the countries worst hit is Liberia. Many people have lost almost their entire family and are left without support.
Image: DW/Julius Kanubah
Ignorance about Ebola
Stephen Morrison says eight family members, seven brothers and one sister, have died of the virus. He blames ignorance about Ebola and traditional burial rituals for the misery his country is going through. "The deaths in our family started when an old man died and no one at that time could tell it was Ebola. It was at the time when denial of the virus was so high,” Morrison said.
Image: DW/Julius Kanubah
Death after death
"I am the only one along with three other children who survived in the whole house of fourteen persons," Ma-Massa Jakema disclosed. "I am feeling bad. We lost so many people." The virus killed family members including her older sister and younger brother. Six of her brother's children plus some extended family members also succumbed to the virus.
Image: DW/Julius Kanubah
Losing an entire family
Life is particularly hard for Amy Jakayma. The Ebola virus caused the death of her husband, four children and an aunt. "My aunt was the first to die. She was followed by my husband and children," said Jakayma. "My life is not really OK. I lost my entire family."
Image: DW/Julius Kanubah
Grandfather as last resort
Massah S. Massaquoi broke down in tears as she recounted the ordeal she underwent when the deadly Ebola virus brought death to her family. "Life is very difficult for me. I am the only person who survived from my immediate family. I am currently staying with my grandfather." Massah lost her child, mother and uncle to Ebola. She is also an Ebola survivor.
Image: DW/Julius Kanubah
Mocked by neighbors
11-year-old Princess S. Collins is also among the Ebola survivors in Liberia’s capital Monrovia. The epidemic claimed the life of her mother, uncle and brother. As if that was not enough, "we were mocked by our community neighbors who refer to us as Ebola patients," Collins said.
Image: DW/Julius Kanubah
No more education
Mamie Swaray, aged 15, has lost three family members to Ebola. "I am feeling sad after I lost my uncle who was sending me to school," said Swaray, whose future is now uncertain. She herself survived the virus after spending several days in the Ebola Treatment Unit.
Image: DW/Julius Kanubah
Waiting for help
Felicia Cocker is a mother of five. The deadly disease killed her husband and two of her children. "Life is very hard for me now, I don’t have anyone to take care of me," Cocker told DW. 27-year-old Cocker, her children and extended family members posing in this picture have all survived Ebola.
Image: DW/Julius Kanubah
Grateful to be alive
Oldlady Kamara is from Virginia, Monrovia. She lost 17 family members including her husband to Ebola. "I feel bad to lose my husband but there is nothing I can do. It's God's will," said Kamara. After undergoing treatment at an Ebola center she is grateful to be alive though she is finding it difficult to cope.
Image: DW/Julius Kanubah
A big thank you to doctors
Bendu Toure has just been discharged from the Ebola center after undergoing treatment. She contracted the virus as she was taking care of her sister who died. Her brother also died of Ebola. Toure is particularly grateful to the doctors who took care of her. "When I was discharged from the Ebola center I was very happy because it was the end of me seeing people dying every day," she said.
