Researchers in Sierra Leone have found a new strain of the Ebola virus, the government said on Thursday.
The virus was discovered in bats in northern Bombali region by scientists in a joint US-West African study funded by USAid.
The
finding comes two years after end of the worst-ever Ebola outbreak that
killed more than 11,000 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
But
researchers say the new Bombali virus is distinct from other Ebola
virus strains and it is not yet known whether it could develop into the
deadly disease.
“At this time it is not known if
Bombali virus has been transmitted to people or if it causes disease in
people. However, results show it has the potential to infect human
cells,” the scientists said in a report.
“Further investigation is needed to understand more about the specific risks it poses,” they added.
The study is part of the Predict Ebola Host Research Project in
West Africa that brings together scientists from the University of
California Davis and Colombia University in the US and their
counterparts in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia to improve
understanding and preparedness for future disease outbreaks in the
region.
The three West African neighbour countries were
hard hit by the Ebola outbreak which began in Guinea in December 2013
before spreading to Liberia and Sierra Leone. The epidemic was declared
over by the World Health Organisation in 2016 after claiming over 11,300
lives out of nearly 30,000 registered cases.
The Predict Research is designed to monitor wildlife specimens for known pathogens in the wake of the West African outbreak.
In Sierra Leone, of the 241 bat specimens sampled, five tested positive of the Bomali virus.
The
government said it will engage the local communities in the area to
create awareness of the new strain and health safety measures.
The
2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was caused by the Zaire virus,
which was discovered in Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, in
1976. It is the most deadly strain known.
The Zaire
virus has struck DRC nine times with the latest outbreak having been
declared over on Tuesday this week by the WHO after a 10-week
re-emergence that claimed 33 lives.
The Sierra Leone
discovery brings to six the number of known Ebola virus strains. Others
are Sudan, Tai Forest, Bundibugyo and Reston.
The Ebola
virus disease is a highly fatal haemorrhagic fever that is spread
through contact with bodily fluids from infected persons and animals
which include non-human primates, bats and forest antelope.
The Sierra Leone government has urged for calm amid concerns that the discovery might cause panic.
(The EastAfrican)
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