Sierra Leone confirms a death from Ebola, after World Health Organization declares outbreak over

West Africa has been declared Ebola-free after no one tested positive in the last 42 days, but health officials are still concerned about flare-ups.

While WHO and other health specialists say another outbreak of this magnitude is unlikely, and much has been learnt in terms of monitoring patients and responding to outbreaks, problems remain, including with simple hygiene, such as not washing hands.

At its peak, it devastated Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, with bodies piling up in the streets and overwhelmed hospitals recording hundreds of new cases a week.

Included in the program is an additional US$200 million for an Ebola recovery program, which will finance medium- and long-term projects post-crisis.

There were cases in seven other countries including Nigeria, the United States and Spain, though nearly all deaths were in the three West African states. November 2015 saw the latest Ebola case reported.

Ebola passed on from survivors whose blood had been given the all-clear is thought to have been behind two small outbreaks in Liberia after it was initially declared Ebola-free. There was no signs of celebration such as the “Ebola free” T-shirts that people wore after previous World Health Organization announcements. He also said that he would ask the WHO to issue reports on health security over the next two years. This was because survivors can carry the virus for months and pass it on.

“I think there’s been general acknowledgement that World Health Organization and the worldwide community were slow at the start of this outbreak and there is no question that the disease did get away from us all collectively, and in retrospect there are a number of things that we would have done better and sooner”, Brennan said Thursday. “So much was needed and so much was accomplished by national authorities, heroic health workers, civil society, local and worldwide organizations and generous partners.“But, ” she added, “our work is not done and vigilance is necessary to prevent new outbreaks.”Officials also warned of the crucial days and weeks ahead, when the possibility of a flare-up remains high.“We are now at a critical period in the Ebola epidemic as we move from managing cases and patients to managing the residual risk of new infections, ” said Bruce Aylward, WHOs special representative for the Ebola response. “I lost 35 pounds during SARS”, he said.

They are celebrated as heroes by their government and the global community, yet many face the harsh reality of stigmatisation rather than gratitude once back in their communities.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.