New Ebola Outbreak In Liberia Continues To Spread As Second Case Is Confirmed

A second case of Ebola has been confirmed in Liberia, following the death of a teenager from the virus on Sunday, officials say.

The country had been declared Ebola-free more than seven weeks ago.

The new case was in Nedowein, the same village where the boy died, the ministry of information said.

Liberia’s authorities quarantined the area after the teenager’s death and said his funeral was carried out safely.

The BBC’s Jonathan Paye-Layleh says the man who tested positive for Ebola did not live with the teenager who died, and has been moved to a treatment centre.

Health official Cestus Tarpeh told AFP news agency that the person had been in physical contact with the 17-year-old before his death.

He added that a herbalist who had treated the boy had evaded the authorities and was on the run.

It is not clear how the teenager who died was infected.

People are infected when they have direct contact through broken skin, or the mouth and nose, with the blood, vomit, faeces or bodily fluids of someone with Ebola.