The African country of Mali has reported the death of a nurse from the Ebola virus as the outbreak’s toll of deaths passed 5,000, it was announced yesterday.
The nurse died after caring for a 70-year-old man in a private Pasteur Clinic.
The patient, a Grand Imam, had travelled from neighbouring Guinea for treatment.
World Health Organisation officials expressed concern at the circumstance of the Imam’s death, warning that "many" mourners had probably attended his funeral ceremonies, including ritual washing.
WHO said several relatives or friends had already died from unexplained diseases or fallen ill.
The death of the nurse was the second confirmed case of infection in Mali. Both involved people travelling from Guinea.
WHO said Mali was "well-rehearsed" in emergency measures.
WHO said the total number of deaths from the Ebola outbreak had now reached 5,160 – and that there was hope the outbreak had passed its peak in Guinea and Liberia.
It warned that Sierra Leone remained badly at risk.
Staff at one Ebola clinic, run by Medicins Sans Frontiers, have gone on strike as the outbreak intensifies, claiming they are owed money by the government, it was reported.
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