An outbreak of Ebola hit Sierra Leone in March 2014. By early December, it is estimated to have killed about 1,660 people in Sierra Leone, and there were about 7,635 suspected and confirmed cases of it in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It is the worst outbreak since the virus was first identified almost 40 years ago. In order to contain the virus, Sierra Leone instituted a 3-day lockdown on the country and an army police, soldiers, and about 30,000 volunteers went door to door looking for victims.

See also Encyclopedia: Sierra Leone .

U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Sierra Leone