The Ministry of Health & Social Welfare (MOHSW) reported new suspected cases of Ebola in Liberia.

Summary, as of April 2, 2014

• New suspected cases reported on Wednesday, April 2, 204, pending laboratory confirmation: 7
• Cumulative number of suspected and confirmed cases: 14
• Cumulative deaths: 6
• Confirmed cases to date: 2
• Recent collected samples to be sent to Guinea for laboratory confirmation: 15

MOHSW and partners have scaled up activities to prevent and contain the outbreak in Liberia — isolation units have been established, health workers have been trained, and experts will shortly be arriving to strengthen government efforts in preventing and containing the spread of the disease. MOHSW is holding regular coordination meetings, distributing personal protective sets to hospitals and general Community Health Volunteers (gCHVs), deploying teams to affected counties to support county efforts, mobilizing resources, tracing contacts, and conducting surveillance and case management.

Information materials and dramas in local vernaculars on Ebola have been developed and shared with counties and communities . Ebola is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of infected persons and some bush animals including fruit bats, monkeys and chimpanzees. The public is encouraged to take the following precautionary measures during this Ebola emergency:

• not to eat dead bush animals; be very very careful in handling fresh bush meat
• avoid bathing dead bodies of suspected patients or unknown animals
• avoid eating plums/ mangoes and other fruits partially eaten by bats
• avoid eating monkeys, bats, and bamboos
• prevent coming in direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons or dead persons
• wash your hands with soap and water as frequently as possible
• treat your water with chlorine before drinking
• report any community member with symptoms using hotline numbers

For more information and links to MOHSW Press Releases since the the suspected outbreak, please visit the MOHSW website.