The international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) confirms that one of its international staff members in Liberia has been diagnosed with Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The French MSF staff member currently on assignment in Monrovia was placed in isolation on Tuesday, September 16, after she developed ​​a fever. Laboratory tests performed on the same day confirmed an Ebola infection.

Following MSF medical evacuation procedures, she will be soon transferred to a specialised treatment center in France.

"MSF applies very strict protocols of protection for its staff - before, during and after their time in a country affected by the current Ebola outbreak”, said Brice de le Vingne, MSF Director of Operations. “This dramatically reduces the risk of transmission of the disease. However, the risk is part of such an intervention, and sadly our teams are not spared.”

The circumstances under which the contamination took place have not been determined at this time. This is being investigated by MSF teams, under the standard management procedures for such events.

For reasons of medical confidentiality and to preserve the privacy of its staff member and her family, MSF will not provide any further comment at this time.