Protesters attack Liberia quarantine centre
Monrovia, 17 Aug - (ANA) - A quarantine centre for suspected Ebola patients in the Liberian capital Monrovia has been attacked and looted by protesters, police say.
The incident happened in the densely populated West Point township on Saturday evening. At least 20 patients who were being monitored for signs of the illness have left the centre. Officials said blood-stained bedding looted from the centre posed a serious infection risk. The protesters were unhappy that patients were being brought in from other parts of the capital, the assistant health minister said. Other reports suggested the protesters believed Ebola was a hoax and wanted to force the quarantine centre to close. The Ebola epidemic began in Guinea in February and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. On Friday, the death toll rose to 1,145 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.

    Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
    Fatality rate can reach 90% - but the current outbreak is about 55%
    Incubation period is two to 21 days
    There is no vaccine or cure
    Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery
    Fruit bats are considered to be virus' natural host (ANA)

FA/ANA/17 August 2014--------