Grand Cape Mount, one of Liberia’s sparsely populated counties with just more than 140,000 people,  share  a long border line with Sierra Leone where the resurgence of the Ebola virus has led to several deaths over the past few weeks.

Tolbert Nyensuwah, Assistant Minister for Preventive Services and head of Liberia’s Ebola Incidence Management System: “In the past 25 days, from December 1 -25, Christmas Day, 49 cases have been reported in Grand Cape Mount: 27 confirmed, nine probable and 13 suspected.

With a very small population, an increase in the number of EVD (Ebola Virus Disease) cases raises high level of concern that we need to take [preventive measures] very seriously as people of Liberia and the people of Grand Cape Mount in particular.”

Mr. Nyensuwah attributed the stark increase in cases to internal migration, transportation of suspected and probable cases into the county and persistent denial of the existence of the virus by locals of the county.

“Number one reason is migration into and out of the county by suspected and probable cases; continued denial by community dwellers that people are not dying of Ebola when, in fact, the bodies that we are testing are EVD positive. Cultural practices are still being done in Grand Cape Mount, for example burial preparation and bathing of dead bodies before burial. We have observed with graveness complacency and high level of disregard of preventive measures that are laid down by the Ministry of Health,” Nyensuwah told a news conference late Sunday in Monrovia.

He said the Liberian government had put in place a system to stop further spread of the disease in that region.

“We have installed Ebola labs to test all cases very fast. Massive mobilization of all our partners, including UNMEER, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and WHO, is ongoing. WFP is immediately going into Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County to give support. FAO has already started going into quarantined population and household that are under quarantine.”