Monrovia, 4 December 2014

Special Representative of the Secretary-General Karin Landgren made the following statement today:

A member of UNMIL military personnel tested positive for the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) on 3 December. The patient is receiving treatment at an Ebola Treatment Unit in Monrovia.

UNMIL has taken immediate steps to prevent further transmission. In line with WHO protocols, the UNMIL Medical team has conducted immediate and robust contact tracing to ensure that all those who came into contact with the individual while he was symptomatic have been assessed and quarantined. Sixteen contacts have been identified to date. All areas where the individual is known to have been while symptomatic have been decontaminated.

This is the third case of Ebola within the mission. One previous confirmed case and another probable case, which could not be confirmed, both resulted in the death of the staff members on 13 October and 25 September, respectively. Our thoughts are with the patient’s family, friends and colleagues.

UNMIL has reinforced existing mitigation measures to prevent any of our personnel in Liberia from contracting or transmitting Ebola.  

I take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to the Governments of Germany and the United States for their medical support, as well as to UNMIL troop and police contributors and all my colleagues for remaining steadfast in their service to Liberia and its people at this critical time.

 For further information, please contact:
Mathew Elavanalthoduka ,mob +231770319153: email: mathew@un.org
Seble Worku, mob +23177039157, email: seblewongel@un.org
UNMIL website: unmil.unmissions.org