(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The EU Saturday expressed happiness over the declaration by the World Health Organization today on the end of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia.
EU Ebola Coordinator and Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides in a statement said "this is great news - for Liberia and for the world." "It is a tribute to the bravery and resilience of the people of Liberia, and of the many African and other international health workers who have worked hard for months to bring Ebola down to zero in Liberia. It shows that the fight against Ebola can be won. But it is an incredibly tough fight," stressed the EU Commissioner.
He, however, called for the continuation of collective efforts until the Ebola outbreak is over in Sierra Leone and in Guinea.
"Both countries have made great strides in recent months to bring infection rates down. We must stand by their side as they work to bring cases down to zero. Beyond that, we have to help all three countries recover from the devastating impact of Ebola on their economies," he said.
"And we need to make sure they, and countries all around the world, are better prepared the next time an epidemic like Ebola strikes," added Stylianides.
Earlier in the day, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Liberia free of the Ebola virus, confirming that the country has had no new cases in 42 days.
More than 4,700 deaths from Ebola have been recorded in Liberia, more than in any other affected country.
The WHO regards a country Ebola-free after a 42-day period without a new case - twice the maximum incubation period.
The last confirmed death in Liberia was on 27 March.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.