Highlights
• As of 14 December, the cumulative number of confirmed, probable and suspected cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Sierra Leone is estimated to have reached 8,356, with a total of 2,085 deaths.
• Led by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), with support from MSF and UNICEF, more than 2 million people received the life-saving antimalarial drugs in a four day Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign that was conducted from 05 to 08 December 2014.
• The national epi curve for all cases shows the first week of a clear decline in VHF and nationally reported data since 23 May 2014 to 08 December 2014.
• As of 10 December, 10,014 children have been identified as being directly affected by the Ebola Crisis, including 4,497 children having lost one or both parents to EVD, an increase of 248 since the previous report.
• In preparation for the Western Area Surge (WAS), UNMEER and partners are bringing in more personnel and equipment for the ETC’s, including two ambulances.
• The Western Area remains a hotspot, hence the government is strengthening the Ebola response operational capacity by providing additional 400 beds available within the next 3 to 4 weeks. Lab processes have been improved. A key element of the WAS plan is the intensification of social mobilisation and the enhancement of active case finding which is being achieved through the doubling of the number of contract tracers.
• In response to a major flare-up of EVD in the area, Sierra Leonean authorities have imposed a two-week lockdown in Kono district.
• As of 10 December, 9,120 metric tons of food and nutritional assistance were distributed to isolation/care centres, quarantined homes, and discharged patients.
