The number of new Ebola cases registered in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea rose in the final week of January, marking the first increase in 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.
“Weekly case incidence increased in all three countries for the first time this year,â€‌ the U.N. health agency said.
During the seven days before February 1, 124 new cases were confirmed across the three West African countries that account for all but 15 of the nearly 9,000 deaths from the devastating outbreak.
Sierra Leone had 80 new cases, up from 65 a week earlier, Guinea recorded 39 cases, up from 30 the previous week, and Liberia saw five new cases, up from four a week ago, according to the latest WHO statistics.
“Continued community resistance, increasing geographical spread in Guinea and widespread transmission in Sierra Leone, and a rise in incidence show that the [Ebola] response still faces significant challenges,â€‌ the WHO said of the deadly virus that has infected about 22,500 people.