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| Ebola outbreak: Sierra Leone lockdown declared 'success' | Ebola outbreak: Sierra Leone lockdown declared 'success' |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A three-day curfew aimed at containing the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone has been declared a success by authorities. | A three-day curfew aimed at containing the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone has been declared a success by authorities. |
| The wide-ranging curfew ended at midnight on Sunday (GMT) and will not be extended, authorities said. | The wide-ranging curfew ended at midnight on Sunday (GMT) and will not be extended, authorities said. |
| Sierra Leone is one of the countries worst affected by the outbreak, with nearly 600 of the almost 2,800 total deaths recorded so far. | Sierra Leone is one of the countries worst affected by the outbreak, with nearly 600 of the almost 2,800 total deaths recorded so far. |
| Some health groups have criticised the lockdown, saying it would destroy trust between patients and doctors. | Some health groups have criticised the lockdown, saying it would destroy trust between patients and doctors. |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) says the situations in Senegal and Nigeria have been "pretty much contained", reports the Reuters news agency. | The World Health Organization (WHO) says the situations in Senegal and Nigeria have been "pretty much contained", reports the Reuters news agency. |
| Nearly all of the deaths in the world's worst Ebola outbreak have been recorded in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. | Nearly all of the deaths in the world's worst Ebola outbreak have been recorded in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. |
| There should be "no general ban on international travel or trade", WHO said, although "quarantines may be necessary in areas of intense and widespread transmission" of the disease. | There should be "no general ban on international travel or trade", WHO said, although "quarantines may be necessary in areas of intense and widespread transmission" of the disease. |
| According to the UN agency, the number of overall deaths from Ebola had risen to nearly 2,793 and the disease remains "a public health emergency of international concern". | According to the UN agency, the number of overall deaths from Ebola had risen to nearly 2,793 and the disease remains "a public health emergency of international concern". |
| The deadly virus is transmitted through sweat, blood and saliva, and there is no proven cure. | The deadly virus is transmitted through sweat, blood and saliva, and there is no proven cure. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| BBC Ebola broadcast: | |
| The BBC World Service is launching a special programme containing the latest news about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. | |
| The first edition will be at 19.50 GMT on Monday 22 September and it will continue each weekday. | |
| In Sierra Leone, head of the Emergency Operations Centre Stephen Gaojia told the BBC that the lockdown was largely successful, and the compliance and receptiveness of Sierra Leoneans was "overwhelming". | In Sierra Leone, head of the Emergency Operations Centre Stephen Gaojia told the BBC that the lockdown was largely successful, and the compliance and receptiveness of Sierra Leoneans was "overwhelming". |
| He said 130 new cases had been confirmed, which would have helped spread the virus if they had remained undetected. Results were still outstanding on 39 suspected cases. | He said 130 new cases had been confirmed, which would have helped spread the virus if they had remained undetected. Results were still outstanding on 39 suspected cases. |
| About 100 dead bodies believed to be of Ebola victims, which could otherwise have been secretly buried without homes being quarantined, were retrieved and buried, officials say. | |
| Bodies of Ebola victims are highly contagious and their swift burial is considered key to containing the disease. | |
| However, health officials also admitted the exercise has exposed the country's inadequate response capability, the BBC's Umaru Fofana in the capital Freetown reported. | However, health officials also admitted the exercise has exposed the country's inadequate response capability, the BBC's Umaru Fofana in the capital Freetown reported. |
| Ambulances are in short supply, as are the isolation wards to look after patients, with almost all Ebola treatment centres confined to the east of the country, he says. | Ambulances are in short supply, as are the isolation wards to look after patients, with almost all Ebola treatment centres confined to the east of the country, he says. |
| There are also too few teams available to bury the dead, partly because of the social stigma attached to the role. | There are also too few teams available to bury the dead, partly because of the social stigma attached to the role. |
| The curfew in Sierra Leone came into force on Friday morning, with most of the country's six million inhabitants confined to their homes. | The curfew in Sierra Leone came into force on Friday morning, with most of the country's six million inhabitants confined to their homes. |
| Around 30,000 medical volunteers travelled to affected neighbourhoods to find patients and distribute soap. | Around 30,000 medical volunteers travelled to affected neighbourhoods to find patients and distribute soap. |
| The three-day curfew is the most aggressive measure taken against the virus yet by a West African country. | The three-day curfew is the most aggressive measure taken against the virus yet by a West African country. |
| Liberia on Sunday said it would increase from 250 to 1,000 its beds for Ebola patients in the capital Monrovia. | Liberia on Sunday said it would increase from 250 to 1,000 its beds for Ebola patients in the capital Monrovia. |
| Information Minister Lewis Brown told AFP news agency that patients were currently being rejected due to lack of space. | Information Minister Lewis Brown told AFP news agency that patients were currently being rejected due to lack of space. |
| "So the government is trying its best to finish the 1,000 beds so we can accommodate all the patients," he added. | "So the government is trying its best to finish the 1,000 beds so we can accommodate all the patients," he added. |
| It follows a warning from the WHO about a huge expected spike in infections in Liberia, which has accounted for more than half the deaths so far. | It follows a warning from the WHO about a huge expected spike in infections in Liberia, which has accounted for more than half the deaths so far. |
| School strike delayed | School strike delayed |
| In Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, teachers' union spokesman Emmanuel Hwande Ora told the BBC that the threat of a strike has been suspended. | In Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, teachers' union spokesman Emmanuel Hwande Ora told the BBC that the threat of a strike has been suspended. |
| However, the union says it will put more pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan's government to introduce more safety controls in schools to prevent the spread of Ebola. | However, the union says it will put more pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan's government to introduce more safety controls in schools to prevent the spread of Ebola. |
| Eight people have died in Nigeria out of 20 who have contracted the disease, but no new cases have been discovered for 10 days. | Eight people have died in Nigeria out of 20 who have contracted the disease, but no new cases have been discovered for 10 days. |
| Ebola virus disease (EVD) | Ebola virus disease (EVD) |
| Do you live in Sierra Leone and think the Ebola curfew was successful? Have you or your family been affected by the virus? Send us your views to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Do you live in Sierra Leone and think the Ebola curfew was successful? Have you or your family been affected by the virus? Send us your views to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |