U.N.: Ebola on the rise in Sierra Leone
联合国:塞拉利昂埃博拉疫情加重
The fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone hits a roadblock as cases are soaring in the West African country because of a lack of treatment centers, according to a UN report. Fatu Filli, whose sister is battling the virus, says hospitals take too long to admit Ebola patients.
(SOUNDBITE) (Krio) SISTER OF EBOLA PATIENT, FATU FILLI, SAYING: "The government has said before that if you have any sick person at home you should call the emergency number, but you have to call several times, and even if they respond, it will be after two to four days. So the slow response is the problem and that is why people are afraid to come to the hospital." The deadly virus has killed more than 4000 people in West Africa. While neighboring Liberia and Guinea show signs of improvement, a majority of new cases have been reported in Sierra Leone. And then there's another challenge - Health officials say the outbreak is undermining confidence in the country's health system with people dying from other diseases, because they refuse to go to clinics for treatment.