SITUATION
• There are significantly more EVD cases last week in Guinea than in Sierra Leone for the first time since the start of the current outbreak. UNICEF report highlights the impact that Ebola has had on children in the affected countries, while UNDP continues to support the healthcare infrastructure in Liberia.
• A total of 150 new confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) were reported in the week up to the 15 March, compared with 116 the previous week. 95 new confirmed cases reported in Guinea, which is the highest weekly total for the country in 2015. Sierra Leone reported 55 new confirmed cases. Liberia reported no new confirmed cases for the third consecutive week.
• In Guinea, 18 unsafe burials were reported, as of 15 March. In comparison, there has been only 1 reported unsafe burial over the same period in Sierra Leone. There are still areas where most new cases arise from unknown chains of transmission.
• A meeting was held in Freetown over 14–15 March to complete the guidelines for the safe decommissioning of Ebola Treatment Centres and Community Care Centres when and where appropriate.