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U.N. health agency: Africa’s Ebola outbreak over but ‘vigilance’ needed U.N. health agency: Africa’s Ebola outbreak over but ‘vigilance’ needed
(about 11 hours later)
NAIROBI —The Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which killed more than 11,300 people over the past two years, officially ended Thursday, according to the World Health Organization. NAIROBI — The Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which killed more than 11,300 people over the past two years, officially ended Thursday, according to the World Health Organization.
The U.N. group made its declaration 42 days after Liberia’s last Ebola case was identified — the traditional marker of an epidemic’s conclusion. The other two affected countries, Sierra Leone and Guinea, were declared Ebola-free last year. The U.N. agency made its declaration 42 days after Liberia’s last Ebola patient tested negative for the disease twice — the traditional marker of an epidemic’s conclusion. The other two worst-affected countries, Sierra Leone and Guinea, were declared Ebola-free last year.
Still, the organization warned in a statement that "more flare-ups are expected and that strong surveillance and response systems will be critical in the months to come.” Still, the organization warned in a statement that “more flare-ups are expected and that strong surveillance and response systems will be critical in the months to come.”
In recent months, countries such as Liberia have been declared free of Ebola, but new cases were later discovered. In recent months, Liberia had been declared free of Ebola, but new cases were later discovered.
[Ebola study: Survivors’ blood didn’t help in Guinea][Ebola study: Survivors’ blood didn’t help in Guinea]
The Ebola epidemic swept through some of the world’s poorest countries with feeble health care systems in 2013 and 2014, infecting hundreds of people before global health agencies mobilized resources. The Ebola epidemic began in West Africa in late 2013 and swept through some of the world’s poorest countries over the next year.
By then, the disease had spread so widely that villages and cities across a huge swath of West Africa were overwhelmed with cases. Without treatment, many died in the streets or in their homes, widening the circle of infection. As fears spread to the United States that the disease might travel across borders and oceans, potentially wreaking havoc far from West Africa, the U.S. government allocated $5.4 billion in emergency Ebola funding. By the time global health agencies mobilized resources, villages and cities across a huge swath of West Africa were overwhelmed with cases. Without treatment, many died in the streets or in their homes, widening the circle of infection.
On Tuesday, in his State of the Union address, President Obama commended physicians and development workers who helped stop the spread of the virus. As fears spread that the disease might travel across borders and oceans, potentially wreaking havoc far from West Africa, the U.S. government allocated $5.4 billion in emergency Ebola funding.
On Tuesday, in his State of the Union address, President Obama commended American physicians and development workers who helped stop the spread of the virus.
[“Very long journey” to control crisis in Sierra Leone][“Very long journey” to control crisis in Sierra Leone]
“They set up the platform that then allowed other countries to join in behind us and stamp out that epidemic. Hundreds of thousands, maybe a couple million lives were saved,” Obama said. “They set up the platform that then allowed other countries to join in behind us and stamp out that epidemic. Hundreds of thousands, maybe a couple million lives, were saved,” Obama said.
But critics say that the United States, like much of the international community, was late in delivering a robust response in West Africa. By the time it had constructed more than a dozen Ebola treatment centers in Liberia, for example, the disease was already fading away, and some of those centers sat empty. But critics say the United States, like much of the international community, was late in delivering a robust response in West Africa. By the time it had constructed more than a dozen Ebola treatment centers in Liberia, for example, the disease was already fading away, and some of those centers sat empty.
With Thursday’s official announcement that the Ebola’s transmission had ended, global health officials acknowledged the achievement — and the unprecedented challenged posed by the disease. With Thursday’s official announcement that Ebola’s transmission has ended, global health officials acknowledged both the achievement and the unprecedented challenge posed by the disease.
[Hunting the next Ebola risks][Hunting the next Ebola risks]
“Detecting and breaking every chain of transmission has been a monumental achievement,” said Margaret Chan, WHO’s director general. “So much was needed and so much was accomplished by national authorities, heroic health workers, civil society, local and international organizations and generous partners. “Detecting and breaking every chain of transmission has been a monumental achievement,” said Margaret Chan, director general of the WHO. “So much was needed and so much was accomplished by national authorities, heroic health workers, civil society, local and international organizations and generous partners.”
“But,” she added, “our work is not done and vigilance is necessary to prevent new outbreaks.” However, she added, “our work is not done, and vigilance is necessary to prevent new outbreaks.”
Officials also warned of the crucial days and weeks ahead, when the possibility of a flare-up remains high. Officials also cautioned that the days and weeks ahead are crucial, with the risk of a flare-up still high.
“We are now at a critical period in the Ebola epidemic as we move from managing cases and patients to managing the residual risk of new infections,” said Bruce Aylward, WHO’s special representative for the Ebola response. “We are now at a critical period in the Ebola epidemic as we move from managing cases and patients to managing the residual risk of new infections,” said Bruce Aylward, the WHO’s special representative for the Ebola response.
Aside from the ravages of the disease, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are facing massive economic challenges because of their virtual paralysis during the peak of the epidemic. A U.N. report last year said West Africa could lose up to $15 billion from 2015 to 2017 because of the fallout from the Ebola crisis — including effects on trade and tourism.
Meanwhile, those countries still need to find a way to care for thousands of children dubbed “Ebola orphans.” And West Africans who helped burn the bodies of the dead or transport the sick still face significant social stigma. In some cases, they have been cast out by their families.
Read more:
Photos: A reporter’s journey through an Ebola-stricken Liberia
Could a pregnant woman change the way we think about Ebola?
In Sierra Leone, the ghosts of war haunt an Ebola graveyard