New Death From Ebola In Sierra Leone - Hours After Outbreak Is Declared ‘Over’

Someone has died from Ebola in Sierra Leone, officials have confirmed - just hours after hte World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak over.

Tests on a 22-year-old student who died in the north of the country proved positive - but health officials appealed for the public to remain calm.

The two-year Ebola epidemic in West Africa killed 11,000 people and triggered a global health alert from the WHO.

The WHO declared Sierra Leone free of the virus on 7 November last year - and the WHO said that the West African outbreak was over when Liberia was pronounced Ebola-free.

The 22-year-old female student was taken ill near the border with Guinea and died three days ago.

A swab test for Ebola tested positive.

‘The victim was taken ill when she was on holidays in Bamoi Luma and was taken to Magburaka, where her relatives took her to the government hospital for medical attention,’ district medical officer Augustine Junisa told reporters.

‘Three days later she died at home and her death was reported to the hospital officials and an initial swab test was taken which proved positive.’

Junisa appealed for the public to remain calm.