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The cause of death for a health worker suspected of succumbing to an acute viral haemorrhagic fever remains unclear, according to Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby.
The minister disclosed on Monday that tests conducted on the embalmed body yielded inconclusive results.
The health worker, who had been employed in Kono District, fell ill over three weeks ago and died in Freetown after being transferred for treatment. Dr. Demby stated that the embalming process prior to testing had compromised the quality of the results.
“No colleagues or close contacts of the deceased have shown signs of illness,” the minister said, adding that the incubation period for haemorrhagic fevers has already passed without any new cases. Despite this, active surveillance continues in both Kono and Freetown.
Dr. Demby emphasized that additional monitoring would continue for another week as a precautionary measure. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are maintaining heightened surveillance,” he assured.
The minister’s statement comes amid heightened public concern, as haemorrhagic fevers like Ebola have previously caused devastating outbreaks in Sierra Leone. No other suspected cases have been reported at this time.
