1. Christmas is cancelled in Sierra Leone to prevent the spread of Ebola.
The government of Sierra Leone has banned public Christmas celebrations in an attempt to contain the further spread of Ebola.
Alarm continues to grow in the West African nation as the virus continues to elude control. The decision to ban public Christmas and New Year’s celebrations was made by the government’s Ebola response unit, who hope the move to keep people indoors will help to contain infection.
Palo Conteh, head of the government department, told reporters that the crack down would ensure “everybody remains at home to reflect on Ebola.”
Military will patrol the streets and bars and clubs have been shut down ahead of the holiday period. Although Islam is the dominant religion in Sierra Leone, more than a quarter of the population is Christian.
Sierra Leone has over-taken Liberia to become the worst affected country by Ebola and has recorded 1,319 new infections in the last three weeks. You can read more about this story here.
2. Grandmother is a ‘person of interest’ in the alleged murder of two children.
A grandmother has been named as a ‘person of interest’ in the suspected murder of two children in a fire at a property in Morayfield, just north of Brisbane. Police have revealed that the fire that killed two children was deliberately lit and the children’s escape from the room was purposely blocked.
Top Comments
The jolly fat man doesn't have a strong presence in much of west africa anyway. This is about street partying, mixing with large numbers of other (not very sober) people (note 'bars and clubs' etc). Treatment for infectious diseases is vital but if you don't have 'containment', then you don't have any control.
How can they just cancel Christmas, there are kids who need a bit of the 'jolly fat man' in their lives at this time!
I don't think it has been cancelled as such just no public celebrations.