EBOLA HUNT -NEW -CONTAGIOUS#3

In Liberia, the disease was reported in Lofa and Nimba counties in late March. On 27 July, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Liberian president, announced that Liberia would close its borders, with the exception of a few crossing points such as the airport, where screening centres would be established. Schools and universities were closed,and the worst-affected areas in the country were placed under quarantine.

With only 50 physicians in the entire country—one for every 70,000 Liberians—Liberia already faced a health crisis even before the outbreak. In September the US CDC reported that some hospitals had been abandoned while those which were still functioning lacked basic facilities and supplies.In October, the Liberian ambassador in Washington was reported as saying that he feared that his country may be "close to collapse".By 24 October, all of the 15 Liberian districts had reported Ebola cases.

On 29 October, the WHO announced that the rate of new infections in Liberia was declining, but urged continued vigilance against a reversal of this trend.A report by CDC released on 14 November, based on data collected from Lofa county, indicates that there has been a genuine reduction in new infections. 

This is credited to an integrated strategy combining isolation and treatment with community behaviour change including safe burial practices, case finding and contact tracing. This strategy might serve as a model to implement in other affected areas to accelerate control of Ebola.