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| Mohamed Belhocine, center, a representative from the World Health Organization speaks, during a press briefing in city of Conakry, Guinea, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015. Guinea has been declared free from transmission of Ebola, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, marking a milestone for the West African country where the original Ebola chain of transmission began two years ago leading to the largest epidemic in history. |
CONAKRY,
Guinea (AP) -- The World Health Organization declared the Ebola
outbreak over in Guinea Tuesday, a huge step in the fight against the
world's largest epidemic and the first time there are no known cases
anywhere since the virus emerged in Guinea two years ago.
The
West Africa-concentrated outbreak last year spread to neighboring
Liberia and Sierra Leone. Liberia is on a countdown to become Ebola-free
on Jan. 14, which could mark a final end to the epidemic. Sierra Leone,
the third West African country to be hammered by the epidemic, was
declared free from transmissions on Nov. 7. No new cases have been
reported anywhere in the world in at least 21 days, according to WHO.
"This
is the first time that all three countries - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra
Leone - have stopped the original chains of transmission that were
responsible for starting this devastating outbreak two years ago," said
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
But experts warn that cases may still emerge. So far, the virus has killed more than 11,300 people worldwide.
"We
definitely cannot let our guard down," said Dr. Tom Frieden, director
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "It's certainly
possible we will have more cases and more clusters in the coming
months."
On Tuesday, about 50 Ebola survivors,
journalists, and family members of those who lost loved ones gathered
at WHO's Ebola headquarters in Conakry, where the mood was of
celebration, mixed with sadness.
"Guinea is a
blessed country. We hope that all the dead, and the victims of this
disease will be sacrifices to the Guinean nation so that no other
epidemic touches us," said survivor Ibrahima Sow.
Mariam
Camara, with tears in her eyes, said the country lost some of its best
to Ebola, including her mother and brother, among the more than 2,500
people who died in Guinea.
"That cursed
disease separated me from that which is most beautiful to me in my
life," she said. "But it's over. We are turning a page on Ebola,
definitively."
This West African nation will
hold a big celebration Wednesday, overseen by President Alpha Conde and
including testimonies by Ebola survivors. Later, popular West African
artists such as Youssou N'Dour and
Tiken Jah Fakoly are to perform at a
concert in the capital.
Dr. Mohamed Belhocine,
WHO's representative in Guinea, said Tuesday the nation will now enter a
90-day period of heightened surveillance.
WHO
declares that Ebola disease transmission has ended when the country
goes through two incubation periods - 21 days each - without a new case
emerging.
Guinea had the fewest Ebola cases of
the three countries, but its bigger size, extensive remote areas and a
stigma and distrust of health workers allowed the outbreak to persist
longer here.
Frieden also warned that if it persists or re-emerges in animals, a transmission to humans is still possible.
"That's why it's so important these countries be ready for additional cases," he said.
He
said the CDC is working on a set of protection measures, including
laboratories that can test for Ebola and other dangerous microbes.
Trained investigators within the three West African countries will help
stop and prevent threats, rapid tests are available and emergency
operation centers are in place to oversee a robust response.
"The world needs to be ready to surge in more rapidly when a country's abilities are overwhelmed," he said.
The
outbreak claimed the first lives in December 2013 but only made
headlines in March 2014 in Guinea, before quickly spreading to Liberia
and Sierra Leone. By early June 2014, even though the Ebola epidemic was
the deadliest ever recorded, the WHO resisted sounding the
international alarm until August, a delay that some argue may have cost
lives.
