Liberia just had its first Ebola death since July

Just months after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Liberia Ebola-free in September, the country saw its first death from the disease since July on Monday. Fifteen-year-old Nathan Gbotoe died late Monday in a hospital in Paynesville near the capital of Monrovia after testing positive for Ebola last week.

Gbotoe's father and brother are also sick and are being treated in the same hospital. In total, health professionals think as many as 153 people may have come in contact with the boy and 10 health workers have been identified as high-risk. The source of the virus is still unknown and is currently being investigated.

WHO has twice before declared Liberia Ebola-free, first on May 9 and again on Sept. 3. Since December 2013, nearly 5,000 people in Liberia have died from Ebola.

The Week

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

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

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