Nearly one year after the peak of a disease that terrorized a nation, Ebola is back. “Sierra Leone is committed to getting to zero cases and to taking care of our survivors, and part of that effort includes understanding how survivors may be affected after their initial recovery,” said Dr. Amara Jambai, deputy chief medical officer for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation. Studies have begun to show that Ebola may linger in the body for up to nine months after the onset of symptoms. This raises new fears about how to eradicate the virus completely. “These results come at a critically important time, reminding us that while Ebola case numbers continue to plummet, Ebola survivors and their families continue to struggle with the effects of the disease,” said Bruce Aylward, WHO Director-General’s Special Representative on the Ebola Response.
Contributor: Phoebe Roe