WHO: Senegal is Ebola-free
October 17, 2014
No new case of Ebola has emerged in Senegal in the past 42 days since a Guinean, who traveled to the capital Dakar, was tested positive for the disease in August, the WHO said in a statement on Friday. The man has recovered and his 74 known contacts have also not caught the disease, reported the agency.
The WHO commended the Senegalese authorities for their "diligence" in tackling the deadly virus which has killed nearly 4,500 people, mostly in the western African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
"WHO officially declares the Ebola outbreak in Senegal over and commends the country on its diligence to end the transmission of the virus," the UN health agency said, adding that the country's response was "a good example of what to do when faced with an imported case of Ebola."
In an active response to the Ebola case, the Senegalese government increased surveillance at its border posts and launched countrywide public awareness campaigns.
According to the WHO, "Senegal has maintained a high level of active 'case finding' for 42 days - twice the maximum incubation period of Ebola virus disease - to detect possible unreported cases of infection."
The UN agency, however, warned against complacence and said that Senegal's "geographical position makes the country vulnerable to additional imported cases of Ebola virus." The authorities needed to remain vigilant for any suspected case by strictly complying with WHO guidelines, it added.
'Urgent global response' needed
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has once again called for the response to the Ebola crisis to be stepped up.
"Ebola is a huge and urgent global problem that demands a huge and urgent global response," Ban told reporters in New York. "The people and governments of West Africa are demonstrating significant resilience, but they have asked for our help."
"Dozens of countries are showing their solidarity. But we need to turn pledges into action. We need more doctors, nurses, equipment, treatment centers and medevac capacities,” he continued.
The WHO warned of the continuously aggravating situation in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The latest figures from the UN health agency indicate a total of 8,997 cases in seven countries - Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain and the US.
shs/es (AP, AFP, Reuters)