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Ebola crisis: Liberia confirms West Point patients missing Ebola crisis: Liberia confirms West Point patients missing
(about 4 hours later)
Following earlier denials, Liberia has admitted that 17 suspected Ebola patients are "missing" after a health centre in the capital was looted.Following earlier denials, Liberia has admitted that 17 suspected Ebola patients are "missing" after a health centre in the capital was looted.
The government had sought to reassure people, saying all the patients had been moved to another health facility.The government had sought to reassure people, saying all the patients had been moved to another health facility.
But Information Minister Lewis Brown told the BBC that 17 inmates had gone "back into their communities".But Information Minister Lewis Brown told the BBC that 17 inmates had gone "back into their communities".
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for exit screenings on all travellers from affected countries.The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for exit screenings on all travellers from affected countries.
It wants checks at airports, sea ports and major land crossings.It wants checks at airports, sea ports and major land crossings.
Several airlines have already stopped flying to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - the countries worst affected by the world's most deadly outbreak of Ebola, which has no known cure.Several airlines have already stopped flying to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - the countries worst affected by the world's most deadly outbreak of Ebola, which has no known cure.
It has killed 1,145 people this year, the World Health Organization says. Cameroon has closed its land, sea and air borders with Nigeria, which also has several cases of Ebola, reports said.
Assistant Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah said protesters in the West Point district attacked a quarantine centre on Saturday because they were unhappy that patients were being taken there from other parts of the capital, Monrovia. The virus has killed 1,145 people this year, the World Health Organization says.
Other reports suggested the protesters had believed Ebola was a hoax and wanted to force the centre to close. Meanwhile, the UN's chief co-ordinator in Sierra Leone, David McLachlan-Karr, told the BBC that Ebola had spread to 12 out of 13 of the country's districts.
"While Sierra Leone was the last affected of the three Mano River countries to have confirmed [cases] of Ebola, now it's the country with the most cases," he said.
There have been at least 810 cases of Ebola reported in Sierra Leone, including 348 deaths, according to WHO figures.
'Greatest setback''Greatest setback'
In Liberia, Assistant Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah said protesters in the West Point district attacked a quarantine centre on Saturday because they were unhappy that patients were being taken there from other parts of the capital, Monrovia.
Other reports suggested the protesters had believed Ebola was a hoax and wanted to force the centre to close.
Mr Nyenswah had said that all the suspected patients had been transferred to an Ebola treatment centre in the John F Kennedy Memorial Medical Center in Monrovia.Mr Nyenswah had said that all the suspected patients had been transferred to an Ebola treatment centre in the John F Kennedy Memorial Medical Center in Monrovia.
But on Monday, the information minister said 17 of the 37 patients were unaccounted for.But on Monday, the information minister said 17 of the 37 patients were unaccounted for.
He said the authorities were now trying to track them down but said he was confident they would return.He said the authorities were now trying to track them down but said he was confident they would return.
"Most of the people that went into this holding facility came there voluntarily," he told the BBC."Most of the people that went into this holding facility came there voluntarily," he told the BBC.
"So our impression is that they still want to be [there], but they were forcibly removed by vandals and looters, not because they wanted to leave; so we are sure that they will return.""So our impression is that they still want to be [there], but they were forcibly removed by vandals and looters, not because they wanted to leave; so we are sure that they will return."
He said the attack on the quarantine centre was Liberia's "greatest setback" since the Ebola outbreak began.He said the attack on the quarantine centre was Liberia's "greatest setback" since the Ebola outbreak began.
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
Blood-stained mattresses, bedding and medical equipment were taken from the centre, a senior police officer told BBC News, on condition of anonymity.Blood-stained mattresses, bedding and medical equipment were taken from the centre, a senior police officer told BBC News, on condition of anonymity.
"This is one of the stupidest things I have ever seen in my life," he said. "All between the houses you could see people fleeing with items looted from the patients.""This is one of the stupidest things I have ever seen in my life," he said. "All between the houses you could see people fleeing with items looted from the patients."
The looting spree, he added, could spread the virus to the whole of the West Point area.The looting spree, he added, could spread the virus to the whole of the West Point area.
Health workers fleeHealth workers flee
Lindis Hurum, from medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), says there is an urgent need for a massive public awareness campaign in Liberia.Lindis Hurum, from medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), says there is an urgent need for a massive public awareness campaign in Liberia.
"Some people don't believe that it exists. Definitely, as the situation is getting worse and more people are getting sick, more people also start to believe it," she told the BBC."Some people don't believe that it exists. Definitely, as the situation is getting worse and more people are getting sick, more people also start to believe it," she told the BBC.
"But they don't necessarily understand or know how they should prevent it.""But they don't necessarily understand or know how they should prevent it."
MSF says the Ebola outbreak has had a terrible impact on Liberia's entire healthcare system, which it says is more or less falling apart.MSF says the Ebola outbreak has had a terrible impact on Liberia's entire healthcare system, which it says is more or less falling apart.
Many health facilities have closed, with patients as well as medical staff, too scared to turn up for fear of catching the disease.Many health facilities have closed, with patients as well as medical staff, too scared to turn up for fear of catching the disease.
The Ebola epidemic began in Guinea in February and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.The Ebola epidemic began in Guinea in February and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
One Nigerian doctor has survived the disease and was sent home on Saturday night, said Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu in a statement.One Nigerian doctor has survived the disease and was sent home on Saturday night, said Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu in a statement.
Mr Chukwu said five other people infected with Ebola had almost fully recovered.Mr Chukwu said five other people infected with Ebola had almost fully recovered.
The death toll of 1,145 was announced on Friday after the WHO said 76 new deaths had been reported in the two days to 13 August. There have been 2,127 cases reported in total.The death toll of 1,145 was announced on Friday after the WHO said 76 new deaths had been reported in the two days to 13 August. There have been 2,127 cases reported in total.