The World Health Organization (WHO) released the findings on Tuesday of its ninth meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO director-general under the International Health Regulations regarding the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa.
The findings from the meeting were mostly positive, indicating that the ability of West African first responders to react and halt the spread of the disease has increased dramatically.
“Representatives of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone presented the epidemiological situation, ongoing work to prevent Ebola re-emergence, and capacity to detect and respond rapidly to any new clusters of cases in each country,” the WHO said. “The committee noted that since its last meeting all three countries have met the criteria for confirming interruption of their original chains of Ebola virus transmission. Specifically, all three countries have now completed the 42 day observation period and additional 90 day enhanced surveillance period since their last case that was linked to the original chain of transmission twice tested negative. Guinea achieved this milestone on March 27.”
The news from the meeting is a strong indicator of a return to normalcy for the affected countries after the outbreak in 2014.
“The committee provided its view that Ebola transmission in West Africa no longer constitutes an extraordinary event, that the risk of international spread is now low, and that countries currently have the capacity to respond rapidly to new virus emergences,” the WHO said. “Accordingly, in the committee’s view the Ebola situation in West Africa no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern and the temporary recommendations adopted in response should now be terminated. The committee emphasized that there should be no restrictions on travel and trade with Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and that any such measures should be lifted immediately.”