Ebola Virus Outbreak Back in Sierra Leone: Officials Confirm a Death From Disease, More Flare-Ups Expected

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Just a day after the world rejoiced at the declaration that the World Health Organization made saying West Africa is now Ebola-free, a new case has erupted -- just as they expected.

Yesterday, the WHO warned that the “job is not over” because they are expecting flare-ups to occur. As such, a heightened level of surveillance, vigilance and responsiveness is needed.

However, a new case has erupted: a 22-year-old woman from Sierra Leone is reported to have died from the virus, the Agence France-Presse reported.

The woman, a female student named Marie Jalloh, was taken ill from the Guinean border last week. She reportedly began showing symptoms at the start of the January after traveling to a town near the border, The Guardian reported.

"The victim was taken ill when she was on holidays in Bamoi Luma and was taken to Magburaka, where her relatives took her to the government hospital for medical attention," district medical officer Augustine Junisa said.

Jalloh reportedly died Tuesday and was found positive for Ebola using a swab test.

Upon finding that she was positive with the virus, 27 people were quarantined as it is believed that they have been exposed to her before she died.

Prior to her death, Jalloh was reportedly nursed by a household of 22 people. It is also reported that a health worker from a local hospital took a blood sample from her without wearing protective clothing.

This new report of an Ebola death has cut short the rejoicing over the earlier reported freedom from the plague that ravaged the West African region for two years.

Countries that were reportedly affected by the virus included Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Liberia was declared Ebola-free only yesterday. All three countries are believed to be at high-risk for flare-ups.

Health officials typically wait 42 days before declaring that a country is Ebola-free, as it takes 21 days for an infected person to begin showing symptoms.

Flare-ups, however, are expected, according to the WHO. They have found evidence suggesting that, although the virus appears to have disappeared from the body of a person who has been cured, the virus can remain in a formerly-infected male's semen for as long as a year. It might even be transmitted to intimate partners.

Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, said that, although the earlier declaration was a “monumental achievement,” their “work is not done and vigilance is necessary to prevent new outbreaks.”