Fears in Sierra Leone as police seize samples of Ebola blood at the airport

Health workers and military personnel at the Kerry Town Ebola treatment centre on the outskirts of Freetown, Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone officials are contending with a major scandal emanating from the interception of blood samples obtained from Ebola victims. PHOTO | FRANCISCO LEONG |

What you need to know:

  • The consignment totalling 2,592 blood samples was contained in 72 boxes and 36 vials.
  • Army and armed police were said to be securing the consignment, which some say was actually headed for Brussels when it was busted.

IN FREE TOWN

Sierra Leone officials are contending with a major scandal emanating from the interception of blood samples obtained from Ebola victims.

The samples were intercepted on Saturday at the Lungi International Airport by security personnel at a time the country is trying to cope with rising cases of new Ebola infections.

The consignment totalling 2,592 blood samples was contained in 72 boxes and 36 vials.

They are believed to be swabs from people infected with the Ebola virus and were said to have been obtained at a medical centre outside Freetown.

Medical authorities say they were meant for a laboratory in South Africa for studies, but persistent rumours indicate otherwise.

A Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) statement said the highly infectious blood samples were meant for safe storage in South Africa, which it said has the only maximum containment lab in Africa.

“The shipment is done in line with an agreement between the MoHS and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases at Lakka to ship the samples to the BSL4 Bio Safety Lab in South Africa for safe storage and further research,” the joint statement by the ministry and the Office of National Security (ONS) reads, adding that every precaution had been employed in undertaking the shipment.

“The ONS therefore wants to assure the general public that the shipment is done in accordance with International Health Regulatory Standards. There is therefore no cause for alarm. The safety and security of the general public is hereby assured.”

Army and armed police were said to be securing the consignment, which some say was actually headed for Brussels when it was busted.