After nearly two years, WHO declares Sierra Leone Ebola-free.
Saturday, November 7, marked the end of the infamous Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone -- following the September 3 "Ebola-free" declaration for neighboring country, Liberia.
Sierra Leone residents gathered at the capital, Freetown to celebrate the end of the outbreak with loud cheers and dancing. Thousands also held a candlelit vigil, led by women's groups, in remembrance of those who were not fortunate enough to survive the fatal illness, according to a report by ABC News.
Reuters furthered that the assemblage was in commemoration of the Ebola health workers who also lost their lives to care for those inflicted with the virus.
University student Fatmata said tearily, "They died so we could live." Reuters notes that the some 220 health workers who died did so because of "inadequate protective equipment and training." These carers were among the 4000 casualties in Sierra Leone alone since the Ebola outbreak announcement in the last quarter of 2013. Reuters reports that more than 11,300 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea combined and approximately 28,500 were infected with the Ebola virus, as per WHO records.
World Health Organization Sierra Leone representative, Anders Nordstrom, made the official statement to announce the laudable feat. "WHO commends the government and people of Sierra Leone for the significant achievement of ending this Ebola outbreak," Nordstrom said, as per ABC News. Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma is said to be in attendance to the WHO declaration which marks the 42 days since the country's last confirmed Ebola case -- a patient discharged last Sept 25.
Now, a new challenge presents itself for Sierra Leone as they now must remain clear throughout the 90-day intensive surveillance period.
"We have prevailed over an evil virus. We persevered and we have overcome. We must not let down our guard," said Sierra Leone President Koroma, as cited by ABC News.
Meanwhile, neighboring country Guinea -- the known origin of the virus -- is still under the Ebola watch as they have not successfully reached the 42-day inspection. It is now the only country struggling to free itself from the deadly virus. Presently, it has seven new cases recorded by WHO.
The United Nations group WHO has received criticism for its failure to correctly respond to the West African Ebola outbreak with "weak leadership, shoddy supplies and infighting" cited as the factors that negatively contributed to the battle against the virus.