Senegal records first case of Ebola

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) – Senegal has recorded its first case of Ebola in an outbreak that is ravaging its West African neighbours, the Ministry of Health said Friday.

The infected person is a young man from Guinea, Health Minister Awa Marie Coll Seck told reporters.

The outbreak that has killed more than 1 500 people began last year in Guinea, which shares a border with Senegal. Since then, the disease has spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. At least 3 000 people have contracted the virus.

The arrival of the dreaded disease in Senegal, whose capital Dakar is a major transportation hub for the region, is likely to increase fears about the disease’s uncontrolled spread even further.

The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak is worsening and offered new evidence of its acceleration Friday, saying the past week has seen the highest increase of cases since the outbreak began.

The UN health agency has warned that the disease could eventually infect 20 000 people, and unveiled a plan Thursday to stop transmission in the next six to nine months.