Sierra Leone reports 2 Ebola deaths, 12 cases

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — Health officials in Sierra Leone say there have been two deaths from Ebola and a dozen other cases of the deadly disease.

The deaths have now been confirmed by the country’s health minister.

However, another official, Dr. Amara Jambai, said Friday that other suspected cases in the capital turned out to be negative.

Teams from the World Health Organization and Doctors Without Borders are expected in Sierra Leone in the coming days.

The Ebola deaths in Sierra Leone follow an outbreak in neighboring Guinea that also led to cases in Liberia earlier this year. It was the first crisis of its kind in West Africa.

Ebola causes a high fever and severe bleeding. The mortality rate has been close to 70 percent, according to the WHO.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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