10th Sierra Leonean physician dies from Ebola

The 10th Sierra Leonean doctor has died from the Ebola virus, a health official in the country says.

Dr. Aiah Solomon Konoyeima succumbed to the disease on Saturday, said Sierra Leone’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brima Kargbo, describing as “shocking the continuing death rate among Sierra Leonean frontline medical doctors.”

In an attempt to explain why so many doctors have lost their lives, Kargbo said doctors may try to deal with their symptoms at home before seeking treatment at a medical center.

Konoyeima worked at a children’s hospital and was under medical treatment at the Hastings Ebola Treatment Center.

His death came after two doctors in Sierra Leone died of the virus on Saturday.

It was not immediately clear how they had contracted the disease, or if they were involved directly in the treatment of Ebola patients.

As Ebola is transmitted through the bodily fluids of the sick and dead, it is often named as the “caretakers’ disease.”

Hundreds of health workers have been infected by the deadly virus. Overall, Ebola has sickened more than 17,500 people, mostly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. About 6,200 infected cases have died so far. No effective treatment has been found for Ebola.