Liberia opening 2nd Ebola center in capital

Fact sheets for the Ebola virus are distributed during an awareness campaign in Lagos, Nigeria, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. The Ebola outbreak that has killed more than 1,000 people in West Africa could last another six months, Doctors Without Borders said Friday, and an aid worker acknowledged that the true death toll is unknown. Meanwhile, new figures released by the World Health Organization showed that Liberia has recorded more deaths — 413 — than any of the other affected countries. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

By Associated Press August 16, 2014 1 min read

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) – Authorities in Liberia are opening a new center to treat Ebola patients after the existing one in the capital became overwhelmed with patients.

Assistant Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah said the first center was only meant to treat 25 people and now has about 80 patients.

The new center opening Saturday will have 120 beds but may eventually be tripled in size because of the ongoing crisis

Isolating Ebola patients is key to slowing the spread of the disease, as sick people can transmit it through their bodily fluids such as blood, sweat or urine.

The U.N. health agency has warned that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa may last another six months.