A man in the African country of Senegal has been confirmed as having contracted Ebola. Senegalese Health Minister Awa Marie Coll Seck told reporters the young man was in Guinea and had contact with Ebola victims there. He was immediately put in quarantine, she said.

The appearance of the disease in Senegal, which had closed its border with Guinea, is indicative that containment and control has still not been achieved. Health officials raised alarms due to Senegal's prominence in the region: The capital of Dakar is a major transportation hub for air traffic to and from North and South America, and the country has a vibrant tourist industry.

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The confirmed spread of the dreaded disease to yet another country comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that this week saw the highest rate of infection yet, with 500 new confirmed cases. Only 400 had been confirmed the week before. Most new cases are in Liberia, but the agency said it was also the highest number of cases in one week for Guinea and Sierra Leone.  

Ebola was first reported in Guinea last year, but sparked the worst epidemic on record this year. At least 3000 have contracted the disease, which is spread by bodily fluids. Although treatment for the viral condition in its early stages has seen recent successes, there is no known cure. Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nigeria also report confirmed cases. Officials in Vietnam and Myanmar are awaiting test results for suspected cases after travelers from Africa came down with symptoms similar to Ebola.

Another suspected case in China proved to be a false alarm. Two American medical workers in the afflicted areas that contracted the virus were airlifted back to the US and were successfully treated.

WHO estimates Ebola could infect up to 20,000, and unveiled a plan Thursday to stop transmission in the next six to nine months. Doctors, medical professionals, and political leaders in the hot zones have admitted the outbreak is out of control, and have instituted vast quarantine programs in an attempt to lessen infections.

TagsSenegal, Dakar, Ebola outbreak