Sierra Leone Ebola victim exposed 27 others to disease, NGO report finds

Aug. 6, 2014: A man and woman taking part in a Ebola prevention campaign holds a placard with an Ebola prevention information message in the city of Freetown, Sierra Leone. (AP)

FREETOWN – A woman who died of Ebola this week in Sierra Leone potentially exposed at least 27 other people to the disease, raising the possibility of further transmission as a regional epidemic appeared nearly over, according to an aid agency report.

The victim, a 22-year-old female student from Tonkolili district named Mariatu Jalloh, became ill at the beginning the year and died on Jan. 12 while living in a house with 22 people. She had sought medical attention at a local hospital but was treated as an outpatient.