Disease

New Ebola Case in Liberia

The death of a 15-year-old boy from Ebola in Liberia — a country that has been declared free of the disease twice — raises the question of why cases are still popping up in the country, experts say.

The teenager, who died Tuesday (Nov. 24), tested positive for the disease last week. His brother and father are also infected, and more than 150 people with whom the boy may have come into contact are now being monitored.

Liberia was first declared Ebola-free in May, but then a new case was confirmed in July. The country was declared Ebola-free for the second time in September.

In order for a country to be declared Ebola-free, health officials typically wait 42 days since the last person was cured of the disease.

The handling of this most recent case may already have put many others at risk.