Ebola virus epidemic in Liberia

Ebola virus epidemic in Liberia
A map of Liberia
Cases contracted in Liberia10,675 (as of 7 April 2016)[1]
Deaths4,809 (as of 7 April 2016)[1]
Location of Liberia in Africa

An epidemic of Ebola virus disease occurred in Liberia from 2014 to 2016, along with the neighbouring countries of Guinea and Sierra Leone. The first cases of virus were reported by late March 2014.[2] The Ebola virus, a biosafety level four pathogen, is an RNA virus discovered in 1976.[3]

Before the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic the country had 50 doctors for its population of 4.3 million. The country's health system was seriously weakened by a civil war that ended in 2003.[4]

  1. ^ a b "Liberia and Guinea step up coordination to stem new cases of Ebola". WHO. 8 April 2016. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  2. ^ "2 of 5 Test Positive for Ebola in Liberia", Liberian Observer, 31 March 2014, archived from the original on 9 July 2014, retrieved 6 July 2014
  3. ^ "Experimental therapies: growing interest in the use of whole blood or plasma from recovered Ebola patients (convalescent therapies)". WHO. 26 September 2014. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Ebola-hit Liberia on brink of societal collapse – experts". Rappler. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.