Conakry -- Guinea is racing to contain a deadly Ebola epidemic spreading from its southern forests to the capital Conakry, as neighbouring Senegal closes its border. The order affects crossings at Kolda and Kedougou in the south of Senegal which are heavily used by traders, particularly during a weekly market attended by thousands from neighbouring countries.Eight cases of Ebola have been confirmed in Conakry, the Guinean health ministry said late Friday, including one fatality. Across the country, "the total number of suspected cases recorded from January to 28 March 2014 is 111 cases of haemorrhagic fever including 70 deaths ... or a fatality rate of 63 percent," the ministry said in a statement.
Samples taken from 45 of the suspect cases included 19 which tested positive for Ebola. Most of the cases were recorded in southern Guinea, but the disease has spread to the capital since Wednesday.
Sakoba Keita, who heads the Guinean health ministry's prevention division said it remains unclear how Ebola had arrived in Guinea. Tests on the other cases of haemorrhagic fever are still ongoing to determine their origin.
"We hope to get (the results) quickly as these cases should be treated like Ebola as they are also deadly," he said.