Sierra Leone cracks down on residents hiding Ebola patients

Sierra Leone cracks down on residents hiding Ebola patients
(Image credit: John Moore/Getty Images)

In an attempt to counteract what the World Health Organization says is an "invisible caseload" in West Africa's Ebola outbreak, Sierra Leone passed a law on Friday making it illegal for residents to hide Ebola patients.

The new law includes up to two years of jail time for anyone found guilty, but officials said the strict terms were necessary in a country that has recorded 910 Ebola cases and 392 deaths so far. WHO officials believe the number of people infected with Ebola is much higher than recorded, but that many people are choosing to hide, for fear of being stigmatized.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Sarah Eberspacher

Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.