World Health Organization declares Liberia free of Ebola

For the first time since the outbreak began in December 2013, all three countries will have registered zero cases in at least 42 days, which is twice the incubation period for the virus.

The new knowledge came in handy after Liberia – declared Ebola-free – had two further flare-ups successfully stopped in their tracks. The World Health Organization declared Sierra Leone free from Ebola transmissions on Saturday, as West Africa battles to stamp out the deadly virus that is holding on in neighboring Guinea.

Liberia, the country worst hit by Ebola outbreak with 4,800 deaths, discharged its last two patients from hospital last month, marking the end of the epidemic.

He said the country has developed a three-point response strategy to contain the spread of the virus, including testing bodies of Ebola victims and continued testing of survivors.

The World Health Organization describes Ebola virus disease (formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) as “a severe, often fatal illness, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%”. The two last cases of Ebola belonged to a father and his son, and on December 3 they were declared healthy and Ebola free.

World Health Organization cautioned, however, that the three countries remain at high risk of small outbreaks like the most recent one in Liberia, which are likely due to the virus persisting in survivors after recovery. The new cases had occurred on average 27 days apart, but there have been none since mid-November.

“These are essential requirements to prevent any future outbreak from spreading”.

Health workers assist a patient suspected of having Ebola on their way to a treatment centre run by …

Dr Bruce Aylward, WHO’s special representative for the Ebola Response, said: “The risk of re-introduction of infection is diminishing as the virus gradually clears from the survivor population, but we still anticipate more flare-ups and must be prepared for them”.

“We must be grateful to God and then to the government and its partners for the country to be declared free of Ebola”.

Important lessons were learned the hard way from the unprecedented devastation and suffering wrought by the outbreak, experts say. “There’s no question that this disease got away from us, collectively”, he said, adding that the World Health Organization has since implemented reforms to be more responsive to future outbreaks.

“We need to remain engaged”, Peter Graaff, WHO director responsible for Ebola response, told reporters. Survivors are among the most valuable workers against Ebola, because they are thought to have some immunity to the virus, but in many places they have been ostracized from their communities.