KEY POINTS
Unsafe burials remains a challenge
EVD stigmatization potential threat to response efforts Guinea opens border with Liberia at Diecke
Key Political and Economic Developments
1 . On 25 February, the border between Guinea and Liberia (Diecke side) reopened to the public after months of closure. The response team posted at the border (Guinea side) reported a lack of essential equipment, including an isolation room and a sufficient stock of hand sanitizers, among others.
Response Efforts and Health
2 . In total, 23,694 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of EVD have been reported in the three most affected countries. There have been reported 9,589 deaths.
3 . WHO reported a total of 99 new confirmed cases of EVD in the week to 22 February, a decline from 128 cases reported in the week to 15 February. Guinea reported 35 new confirmed cases. Cases continue to arise from unknown chains of transmission. Sierra Leone reported 63 new confirmed cases and transmission remains widespread, including a spike of 20 new confirmed cases in Bombali linked to a cluster of cases in the Aberdeen fishing community in Freetown. There were 14 new confirmed cases in Freetown over the same period, with cases still arising from unknown chains of transmission.
Liberia reported 1 new confirmed case, which originated from a registered contact associated with a known chain of transmission in Monrovia.
- In addition to cases arising from unknown chains of transmission, a total of 16 new confirmed cases were identified in Guinea and Sierra Leone after post-mortem testing of individuals who died in the community, indicating that a significant number of individuals are still either unable or reluctant to seek treatment. In Guinea and Sierra Leone, 19 and 15 unsafe burials were reported, respectively.