‘Patient zero’ of Ebola outbreak a Guinean village boy called Emile
Child one of at least 14, including three relatives, in remote village to die from the incurable fever
In the Guinean village where the West African Ebola outbreak began, 14 graves mark the spot where the lethal virus began to spiral out of control.
International aid workers who recently visited Meliandou say nothing there is normal and that families have been ripped apart by the devastating toll of the virus.
The first known victim of the outbreak was Emile Ouamouno, two, who lived in the picturesque forest village with his parents and three sisters, including Philomene, four.
The boy fell ill last December with a mysterious illness that caused fever, black stools and vomiting. About a week after his death, Philomene fell ill and died. She was followed by the children's pregnant mother. and their grandmother.
It would be months before international health officials identified little Emile as West Africa's "patient zero" in a deadly outbreak that continues to double in size every few weeks.
So far, Ebola has been blamed for the deaths of more than 5,000 people among more than 10,000 cases, with the vast majority of them in West Africa.
The outbreak has led to cancelled flights, border closures and a storm of criticism in the United States over its treatment of returning health workers.