Highlights
As of 28 December, the cumulative number of confirmed, probable and suspected cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Sierra Leone is estimated to have reached 9,446 with a total of 2,392 confirmed deaths.
• As of 17 December, 11,337 children have been identified as being directly affected by the Ebola Crisis, including 5,135 children having lost one or both parents to EVD.
As of 16 December, 373 children have died from Ebola, while 575 have survived.
• Two additional shipments of hospital beds (240 beds in total) and three ambulances have also arrived in Freetown on behalf of UNMEER to support the Western Area Surge (WAS). WFP has provided the airlift and in country transport/storage support for the additional beds.
• As a result of the WAS there has been a 25% increase in lab test (swabs/blood) conducted at six laboratories.
• With a commitment of over $361 million to the response in Sierra Leone, the UK is supporting a total of 1052 treatment/isolation beds and over 100 burial teams nationally and their fleet; while supporting GoSL national and district command and control capability.
• The Second EVD Survivor Conference in Kailahun district took place with over 220 attendees.
Stigmatization and rejection in communities were leading concerns expressed. More than 400 Ebola survivors have taken part in four separate survivors’ conferences over the past few days.
• Since the beginning of the emergency operation, more than 1.15 million persons have been assisted in Sierra Leone, including 13,879 in need of care and over 1.14 million persons in quarantine or in areas of intense transmission; assistance is provided at request of health authorities and partners.
• Under the government’s authority – all districts are to restrict movement of people from other districts during the festive season, while Kenema and Kailahun still remain quarantined. All trading activities have been banned from 0600-1800 weekdays, and 0600 - 1200 on Saturdays, with no trading on Sunday’s inclusive of shops and supermarkets. The government has indicated that it will deploy soldiers across the country to enforce the measure.
• Based on the reports from the MNOs (Mobile Network Operators) 100% payments to the Ebola Response workers (ERW’s) were received, with approximately 85% cash-out rate by recipients (13,370 ERWs) as of 25 December 2014. A total of 6.8 billion Leones was disbursed for this third payment cycle. The mobile payment, method is poised to be reconducted for the next payment cycle.
9,446 Cumulative confirmed, probable, & suspected cases
7,354 Confirmed cases
2,758 Deaths from confirmed, probable, & suspected cases
2,392 Laboratoryconfirmed deaths
143 Health care workers who have contracted EVD in Sierra Leone
110 Health care workers who have died from EVD in Sierra Leone