New Ebola cases found in Sierra Leone lockdown

A three-day lockdown in Sierra Leone designed to halt the worst Ebola outbreak on record has identified dozens of new infections.

The head of the emergency operation, Stephen Gaojia, has said there is a strong possibility the exercise will be extended, as not everyone has been reached.

Saturday saw 92 bodies recovered nationwide by emergency teams going house to house to educate people, isolate the sick and remove the dead.

30,000 health workers, teachers and volunteers have been involved as the country’s six million people were told to stay indoors.

The lockdown has been criticised. Observers say some volunteers have been poorly trained. Aid organisations and medical experts have questioned the effectiveness of the operation.

Spain sent a military plane to Sierra Leone on Sunday to repatriate a Spanish Catholic priest who tested positive for the virus.

In Liberia communities are still said to be ignoring advice to stay away from infectious dead bodies.

The Ebola outbreak has killed more than 2,600 people in West Africa this year.