17 die of Ebola virus in Sierra Leone

Freetown, June 12 (IANS) As many as 17 people have died of the ebola virus in the west African country of Sierra Leone out of the total 46 infected cases found, government authorities said here Wednesday.

"Since the index case on May 24 when we had the first confirmed case in the Kissi Teng axis in the Kailahun district, we have been having cases almost on a daily basis from the district and we now see the trend moving to Daru," Xinhua quoted Yaya Tunis, head of the communication ministry as saying.

Hospitals across the country have been instructed to set up isolation units.

"We are visiting these facilities to ensure that there is compliance. Treatment centres have been established in various sites in Kailahun, the most recent being in Daru, which for now, is the epicentre of ebola," Tunis said.