SRSG statement following the death of an UNMIL international civilian infected with Ebola

14 Oct 2014

SRSG statement following the death of an UNMIL international civilian infected with Ebola

Monrovia, 14 October 2014

 

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

 

A United Nations Volunteer, who worked in UNMIL Medical, has passed away in hospital, after testing positive for the Ebola Virus Disease [EVD] on 6 October.

This is the second death in the mission due to Ebola. An earlier probable case resulted in the death of a national staff member on 25 September.

UNMIL colleagues are saddened by the tragic news as they continue to serve at this very difficult time. Our thoughts now are with the family and friends of the departed.

 

UNMIL has taken all necessary measures to prevent any possible further transmission within or outside the mission. The UNMIL Medical team conducted immediate and robust contact tracing to ensure all people that came into contact with both staff members while they were symptomatic are assessed and quarantined. All UNMIL staff considered at-risk have been isolated, and ambulances and other locations decontaminated.

  

The mission is extending the review of its actions initiated in the wake of the first, probable, case of EVD.  UNMIL will continue to strengthen the mitigation measures that had until late September helped to prevent any of our personnel in Liberia from contracting Ebola, despite the fact that thousands of UNMIL military, police, and civilians live and operate in affected areas.

  

With Liberia facing its gravest threat since the civil war ended in 2003, UNMIL’s commitment to the country is steadfast. The mission will continue to do all that it can within its range of capabilities to help roll back the tragedy that is Ebola.

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 For further information, please contact:

Russell Geekie, mob +231770319145: email: geekie@un.org

Ruby Ofori, mob +23177039152, email: ofori2@un.org

UNMIL website: unmil.unmissions.org