Liberian tests positive for Ebola two weeks after last case discharged

Country was among those hardest hit by the outbreak of the deadly virus last year

More than 21,797 cases of Ebola have been recorded since the current outbreak in West Africa began; Liberia has been one the main countries affected by the disease (Getty) (Getty)

A patient has tested positive for Ebola in Liberia's capital, officials said Friday, deflating hopes that the country had beaten the disease after weeks with no new cases.

Liberia has seen the most deaths in the West African Ebola outbreak, which has killed more than 10,000 people. But since it discharged its last case on March 5, it was counting down to being declared Ebola-free. Countries must wait 42 days from when the last patient tests negative to be declared free of the virus.

But a new patient has now tested positive, Dr. Francis Kateh, the acting head of the country's Ebola Incident Management Team, said Friday. A second test is generally done to confirm the diagnosis.

Kateh said: "It is confirmed we've got the first test and it is confirmed."

Tolbert Nyenswah, who runs Liberia's Ebola response, also said he had been told the test result was positive. He said the patient has been transferred to an Ebola treatment center in Monrovia.

In a worrying sign, it is not clear where the woman became infected. She doesn't seem to be linked to any of the people on a list of contacts of other Ebola patients, Kateh said.

"We have to investigate where the person came from," he said. "Did they travel out of the country?"

An emergency meeting will be held on Saturday to compile data on the case.

Associated Press