Liberia awaits WHO declaration of the end of Ebola transmission

Liberia, the last country still affected by the deadly Ebola epidemic is set to be declared free of the virus later on Thursday.

This will be the fourth time the West African country is declare free of Ebola by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The country has recorded 42 days since tests showed the last infected person no longer had the disease.

Citizens in the country are eager for the declaration.

“During Ebola situation I lost some of my friends that were close to me … So I will be so happy that West Africa is Ebola free,” said William Blamo, a student.

“We saw to the point that the health sector placed a team together that was able to fight this epidemic and we saw it to the end. Indeed, they are about to declare the entire West Africa Ebola free; I feel very great,” said businessman Andrew Massaquoi.

Despite being declared Ebola free in January, WHO warned of possible flare-ups in West Africa. Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea were the hardest hit nations.

Previous declarations have often resulted in the emergence of new cases.

Earlier in the month, WHO announced the end of Ebola transmission in Guinea. The country is now in a 90-day period of heightened surveillance to ensure that any new cases are identified quickly before they can spread to other people.

“WHO and partners are working with the Governments of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to help ensure that survivors have access to medical and psychosocial care, screening for persistent virus, as well as counselling and education to help them reintegrate into family and community life, reduce stigma and minimize the risk of Ebola virus transmission,” read a statement by the organisation.

The virus, which spreads by contact with infected blood and bodily fluids, has killed at least 11,300 people in West Africa since 2013.

Today, there are over 10,000 survivors of the Ebola virus disease.

In March, the World Health Organisation (WHO) downgraded the health risk of the Ebola virus after nearly two years of a global emergency.