Sierra Leone is preparing for a big 3 day lockdown in its latest efforts in the fight against Ebola.
The govenment says it will confine 2.5 million people to their homes across the capial and maily in the Nothern region in order to eradicate the Ebola epidemic.
3,700 people died in the worst-ever outbreak of the virus in Siera Leone which was one of the three countries worst affected by Ebola.
Sierra Leone’s National Ebola Response Centre says the lockdown will be in place from March 27th-29th.
Authorities will use the 72-hour window to search out patients in the Western Area, which includes the capital Freetown, and several northern districts.
Teams of experts will go door-to-door reminding households of the dangers of traditional burials, a key factor in the spread of the virus, and investigating unreported deaths.
The country had made significant progress, reporting its lowest weekly number of confirmed cases since June last year.
But all it takes for a spike in transmission is one infected person.
The Rosanda village in northern Sierra Leone is now under quarantine.
A young man had fled his quarantined home in Freetown, passing unchecked to his mother’s village. Three days later he died.
As a result, nearly 30 people have died.
Health for All Coalition’s “Hotspot Busters” deploy rapidly to communities that are considered Ebola hotspots.
Social mobilizers activate youths, women and volunteer networks in each community and reach approximately 9,000 households every week, raising awareness about the spread of the virus.
The government hopes initiatives like this coupled with the lock down will set the country back on track for a mid-April deadline to eradicate the virus, announced by the leaders of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone in February.
A country is considered to Ebola-free after 42 days, double the maximum incubation period for the viru
