New Ebola death confirmed in Sierra Leone

Health officials in Sierra Leone have confirmed a death from Ebola hours after the World Health Organization declared West Africa clear of the outbreak.

According to the government spokesman, Abdulai Bayraytay, the death was recorded in the town of Magburaka in Tonkolili District north of Sierra Leone. The information was confirmed by a senior official in the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation in a statement on Friday confirmed the case of Ebola in Sierra Leone.

A new #Ebola case confirmed by the #SierraLeone govt spokesperson reflects the ongoing risk of new infections in West Africa

— WHO (@WHO) January 15, 2016

The country was declared free of the virus on November 7, and the region as a whole was cleared when Liberia was pronounced Ebola-free on Thursday.

Close to 4,000 people have died of Ebola in Sierra Leone, and 11,000 people across the region, since December 2013.