Liberia has been declared free of the deadly Ebola virus, which killed 11,000 people in the west African, after six weeks without a new case of the disease,
The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said Liberia was free from Ebola after 42 days without a new case but urged vigilance until the worst-ever recorded outbreak of the virus was extinguished in neighbouring Guinea and Sierra Leone.
A total of 11,005 people have died from Ebola in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone since the outbreak began in December 2013, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
A total of 11,005 people have died from Ebola in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone since the outbreak began in December 2013, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)
Nearly half of those deaths have been in Liberia, where the outbreak peaked between August and October, sparked international alarm
Nearly half of those deaths have been in Liberia, where the outbreak peaked between August and October, with hundreds of cases a week, sparking international alarm.
The size of the catastrophe prompted the United States to send in hundreds of troops to help build treatment clinics in the country.
Helped by the visible U.S. military presence, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s government launched a national awareness campaign to stem the infectious disease, which is spread by physical contact with sick people.
‘We can’t take our foot off the gas until all three countries record 42 days with no cases,’ said Mariateresa Cacciapuoti, MSF’s head of mission in Liberia.
She urged Liberia to step up cross-border surveillance to prevent Ebola slipping back into the country.
The U.N. Special Envoy on Ebola, David Nabarro, said this week that Liberian authorities had pledged to maintain heightened surveillance for at least a year after being declared Ebola-free on Saturday.
International aid organisations were forced to step in as the Ebola outbreak ravaged the region’s poorly equipped and understaffed healthcare systems
Even though fewer than 20 new cases were reported in Guinea and Sierra Leone last week, it could take months to get to zero
Nabarro suggested that, even though fewer than 20 new cases were reported in Guinea and Sierra Leone last week, it could take months to get to zero.
International aid organisations were forced to step in as the Ebola outbreak ravaged the region’s poorly equipped and understaffed healthcare systems.
MSF – which was highly critical of the slow response by the United Nations and western governments – opened the world’s largest Ebola management centre in Monrovia, with a capacity of 400 beds.
EBOLA IN LIBERIA: HOW OXFAM TACKLED THE DEADLY VIRUS
Oxfam, the WHO and MSF are just some of the international organisations working to stop the spread of Ebola in Liberia and neighbouring countries
Oxfam has reached over 1.4 million people in Ebola affected countries since the start of its response in May 2014. In Liberia, the charity have supported almost 474,000 people through its water and sanitation activities in health facilities and schools as well as community based work spreading key messages to reduce Ebola transmission.
The epidemic reached its height in Liberia during September 2014, when the 21 day national average reached more than 60 confirmed cases per day.
Source: Oxfam & Liberian Health Ministry
According to the WHO, a total of 868 health workers have caught the virus in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone since the start of the outbreak, of whom 507 died.
Oxfam has said that harnessing local communities was key to Liberia’s success.
In response to Liberia officially being declared Ebola free, Oxfam’s Country Director in Liberia Mamudu Salifu said:
The U.N. Special Envoy on Ebola, David Nabarro (pictured), said this week that Liberian authorities had pledged to maintain heightened surveillance for at least a year after being declared Ebola-free
‘Today’s good news is a step forward for Liberia and also gives hope to the countries still tackling the disease. Liberia has worked hard to reach this point and the nation and its people should take credit for how they dealt with this terrible outbreak.
‘Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea should now work together to ensure the region as a whole achieves zero cases.
‘This is an opportunity to build a better Liberia and strengthen support for the people whose lives have been devastated by the outbreak. Improving healthcare, education and the economy would put Liberia on the road to recovery and help prevent another crisis.’
