One hundred and fifty three contacts including twenty two nurses are currently under surveillance in the fourth outbreak of the deadly ebola virus, Deputy Health Minister Dr. Francis Kateh has confirmed. The outbreak started after a teenager, Nathan Gbotoe, who is currently undergoing treatment, was confirmed positive of the deadly virus.

The twenty-two nurses are all from the John F. Kennedy hospital who attended to the sick Nathan on different shifts at the hospital. Dr. Kateh said several homes are closely being monitored in order to quickly put the outbreak under control.

It seems Liberians will have to live with the nemesis of the deadly Ebola virus for years as residents have once again resulted to living in fears following the fourth outbreak of the deadly virus putting the citizenry on another alert. The Ministry of Health has indicated that three new cases of the deadly virus are confirmed with six patients and other contacts at risk of coming down with the virus.

"The Ministry of Health is announcing the fourth outbreak of the Ebola virus. Currently, we have three confirmed cases. It all started on Thursday, November 19, when we received a report from one of our reference laboratories that a blood sample from live patient tested positive of Ebola", the Ministry confirmed in the statement issued at the weekend.

The Ministry stated that the sample was taken from a patient who presented with symptoms including fever, weakness and bleeding at a hospital in Monrovia on November 17 and the hospital admitted and placed the patient in isolation where blood sample tested positive for Ebola. "The six patients and high risk contacts are in care at an Ebola Treatment Unit in Monrovia. The hospital is currently decontaminating the unit. All of the healthcare workers who came in contact with the patient have been notified," the Ministry added.

According to the Ministry of Health, it is working with the Montserrado County health team and partners to conduct an investigation to isolate and limit the effects of this case, and to quickly respond to any additional cases that may be identified. The Ministry claimed that it has put in place the structure to contain the outbreak based on its readiness. "This case, as the previous case, demonstrates that the structures we have in place to strengthen our surveillance systems and laboratories in Liberia allowed us to respond quickly," the Ministry vowed.