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Ebola in Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone army to monitor burial of Ebola victims

Ebola in Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone army to monitor burial of Ebola victims

Written by Editorial Team |Published : October 16, 2014 11:09 AM IST

Sierra Leone's military will assist in burial process of Ebola victims throughout the country to ensure that the process is completed 'promptly and efficiently', said Yayah Tunis, director of communications in the ministry of health and sanitation Wednesday. Tunis said on national TV that the oversight include family participation in the burial process and reduce the delay in burial, Xinhua reported.

Muslim and Christian retuals to be conducted from a certain distance from the grave sites by Imams and pastors, and families now have the option to bury bodies in coffins,' he said. 'We would now react promptly to all calls as 14 trained burial teams are now positioned in the Western Area (which includes the capital) while five burial teams each are in the district headquarter towns. About 12 persons make up the burial teams, including grave diggers and sprayers,' said Tunis.

What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?

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The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe clinical condition that has threatened the entire world. It is caused by a virus of Filoviridae family. Although 5 types of Ebola virus have been identified, only four have been found to cause the disease in humans. The virus spreads easily through close contact with bodily fluids (like semen, saliva, blood and sweat), skin or objects (like needles or garments) of an infected person. (Read: Ebola virus causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention)

This disease that is highly infectious kills more than 90% of the individuals being infected with the virus (which means that the mortality rate of the Ebola disease is 90%). Hence only 10% of the individuals being infected with the virus survive i.e., the survival rate of the Ebola infection is only 10%. Read more about What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?

With inputs from IANS

Photo source: Getty images

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