by Kolapo Olapoju

Liberia’s deputy health minister and chief medical officer, Bernice Dahn, has voluntarily placed herself under quarantine for 21 days, after one of her assistants died from the Ebola virus disease.

The Liberian government disclosed this to Reuters on Saturday, 27 September, commending Dahn’s decision to put herself into quarantine.

Isaac Jackson, Liberia’s deputy information minister, said, “She has placed herself under self observation due to the fact that her special assistant contracted the virus. If everyone were to do what Dr. Dahn has done, Liberia would be free of Ebola.”

Meanwhile, Dahn stated that it was only right that she quarantined herself. She said, “Of course we made the rule, so I am home for 21 days. I did it on my own. I told my office staff to stay at home for the 21 days. That’s what we need to do.”

Since the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease, Liberia has recorded 1,830 deaths, and according to the World Health Organisation’s figures, 3,091 people, out of 6,574 probable, suspected and confirmed cases, have died from the disease.

The health body has, however, announced that Nigeria and Senegal have successfully halted the spread of Ebola.

Kolapo Olapoju