Liberia tests on new Ebola virus show similar to earlier strain

Tests on the Ebola virus that claimed Liberia's first victim since it was declared Ebola-free in May showed the strain was closely related to an earlier Liberian strain, the World Health Organization and a health official said on Friday.

The findings suggest the disease was never entirely eliminated from the West African nation.

"It indicates that the virus is closely related to one that was circulating in Liberia in that particular area," WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said, confirming initial results of the genetic tests obtained by Reuters.