Suspected Ebola blood samples stolen by bandits in Guinea

In what could be termed as an alarming situation, bandits in Guinea robbed a vehicle carrying suspected blood samples of Ebola victims.

Conakry: In what could be termed as an alarming situation, bandits in Guinea have robbed a vehicle carrying suspected blood samples of Ebola victims.

The motive behind the robbery is yet to be ascertained.

The robbers stopped the vehicle which was carrying the test tubes containing blood samples from Kankan prefecture in central Guinea to a test site in Gueckedou on Wednesday, as per AP news report.

Officials appealed on national radio for the thieves to return the samples.

"We have informed the security services. If these thieves handle this blood, it will be dangerous," Dr. Barry Moumie, who heads patient care for the national Ebola response coordination committee, told The Associated Press.

"I can assure you, however, that the sample-transportation procedures will now be strengthened to avoid such disappointments," he said.

Ebola, which has killed more than 5,000 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, is spread primarily by contact with infected bodily fluids including blood, feces and vomit.

(With AP Inputs)