’Over 20,000 people contracted Ebola in 2014’

Geneva, January 3: The number of people infected with the deadly Ebola virus reached 20,381 people by the end of 2014, and 7,989 of them died of the disease, according to figures released on Friday by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The data includes confirmed, suspected and probable cases recorded in Guinea Cokry and Sierra Leone until December 31 and in Liberia until December 28. The country most severely affected by the epidemic is Sierra Leone, where 9,633 infections and 2,827 deaths have been reported, followed by Liberia with 8,018 infections and 3,423 deaths. (IANS)