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Guinea to be declared free of Ebola virus | Guinea to be declared free of Ebola virus |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Guinea is to be declared free of Ebola by the World Health Organization (WHO), two years after the epidemic began there. | Guinea is to be declared free of Ebola by the World Health Organization (WHO), two years after the epidemic began there. |
Guineans are expected to celebrate the landmark with concerts and fireworks. | Guineans are expected to celebrate the landmark with concerts and fireworks. |
The disease killed more than 2,500 people in the country and a further 9,000 in Sierra Leone and Liberia. | The disease killed more than 2,500 people in the country and a further 9,000 in Sierra Leone and Liberia. |
Sierra Leone was declared free of Ebola in November, but new cases have emerged in Liberia, which had been declared Ebola-free in September. | Sierra Leone was declared free of Ebola in November, but new cases have emerged in Liberia, which had been declared Ebola-free in September. |
A country is considered free of human-to-human transmission once two 21-day incubation periods have passed since the last known case tested negative for a second time. | A country is considered free of human-to-human transmission once two 21-day incubation periods have passed since the last known case tested negative for a second time. |
"It's the best year-end present that God could give to Guinea, and the best news that Guineans could hope for," said Ebola survivor Alama Kambou Dore, quoted by AFP news agency. | |
Local health workers echoed a warning from medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres that vigilance was still vital despite the mood of celebration. | |
"We have to be very careful, because even if open transmission has been stopped, the disease has not been totally defeated," said Alpha Seny Souhmah, a Guinean health worker and Ebola survivor. | |
The disease has had an enormous social and economic impact on Guinea, the BBC's Ibrahima Diane in Conakry says. | The disease has had an enormous social and economic impact on Guinea, the BBC's Ibrahima Diane in Conakry says. |
According to the UN, 6,220 Guinean children have lost one or both parents to Ebola. | According to the UN, 6,220 Guinean children have lost one or both parents to Ebola. |
More than 100 health workers also lost their lives in the fight against the disease. | More than 100 health workers also lost their lives in the fight against the disease. |
Meanwhile, survivors are still living in fear of the stigma and long-term side effects associated with the virus, our correspondent adds. | Meanwhile, survivors are still living in fear of the stigma and long-term side effects associated with the virus, our correspondent adds. |
The fight against Ebola was particularly difficult in Guinea, he says. | The fight against Ebola was particularly difficult in Guinea, he says. |
Some communities initially did not believe there was an epidemic, while others blamed it on Western countries and the Guinean authorities. | Some communities initially did not believe there was an epidemic, while others blamed it on Western countries and the Guinean authorities. |
The government has blamed the virus for poor economic performance and says it has also caused people to distrust the country's health services. | The government has blamed the virus for poor economic performance and says it has also caused people to distrust the country's health services. |
President Alpha Conde has doubled the health budget since winning re-election in November. | President Alpha Conde has doubled the health budget since winning re-election in November. |