Sierra Leone’s Vice President Goes into Self-Quarantine after Security Personnel Dies of Ebola

The Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Samuel Sam-Suman has voluntarily placed himself under a 3-week quarantine after one of his security personnel died from the Ebola Virus, according to the Associated Press.

It is reported that Sierra Leone recorded 18 new cases of Ebola last week, up from 16 the week before.

In a statement released to the press the Vice President stated that “This virus has affected thousands of our people and has nearly brought our country to its knees. We all have a collective responsibility to break the chains of transmission by isolating the sick and reporting all known contacts, by not touching the dead … We cannot be complacent. We must work together as a nation to end Ebola now.”

President Ernest Bai Koroma will attend a European Union conference on Ebola in Belgium, the AP reports.

In the presidents’ absence, Vice President Sam-Sumana will become acting president, carrying out his duties from home.

Photo Credit: The AfricaPaper File