The World Health Organization has declared that ebola virus transmission has been stopped in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
Related Article: Community nurses call for more ‘GP back-up’ in palliative care decisions
The country recorded the first ebola case in May 2014 and since then 8,704 people were infected and 3,589 have died, 221 of them being healthcare workers.
Related Article: All GP practices to be trained in supporting veterans in £1.8m programme
However, 42 days have passed since the last person confirmed to have the disease had a second negative blood test, and the country now enters a 90-day period of enhanced surveillance, which will run until 5 February 2016.
Dr Anders Nordström, WHO representative in Sierra Leone, said: ““We now have a unique opportunity to support Sierra Leone to build a strong and resilient public health system ready to detect and respond to the next outbreak of disease, or any other public health threat.”
Related Article: Action needed on ‘damaging’ school nurse decline to help tackle STI rise
WHO says this new phase is critical for ensuring early detection of any possible new cases of ebola virus disease.
