Ebola epidemic in Mali is over

Ebola epidemic in Mali is over

01/19/2015

The Ebola epidemic in West African Mali has been officially declared over. The health minister said there was no new case for 42 days. In other countries, however, the dangerous infectious disease has not stopped despite positive developments.

Ebola plague officially ended in Mali
In the West African Mali, the Ebola epidemic has been officially declared to have ended, according to a news agency AFP. As Malian Minister of Health Ousmane Koné explained in Bamako on Sunday, this is possible because for 42 days no new cases of the disease have been reported. According to the UN representative Ibrahim Soce Fall, responsible for combating Ebola in Mali, the end of the epidemic was confirmed. In total, seven people died of Ebola in Mali.

Minister thanked for the „weeks of intensive work“
In a statement by Koné, which was televised, it was said that he called for Mali „End of the Ebola epidemic“ out. He thanked the authorities and nurses for their help „weeks of intensive work“, At the same time, however, he called for the strict hygiene standards and protective measures to be continued. According to the minister, the last Ebola-treated patient was tested negative for the virus in early December. Regardless of the government, the UN representative case also stated that Mali was the Ebola epidemic „left behind“ have. The country adheres strictly to the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). It is said that two incubation periods of 21 days are needed without new cases of Ebola, so that a country can be considered as free of the epidemic.

Highly contagious viral disease
Ebola is a dangerous viral disease that is highly contagious once Ebola symptoms such as fever, pain, nausea and vomiting or diarrhea appear. The virus is transmitted by body fluids. Therefore, nurses are particularly at risk. The West African countries Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are hit hardest by the recent epidemic. As the WHO announced on Thursday, the number of new infections there is also significantly lower. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic spoke of one in the context „first optimistic signal“. Especially in Liberia, the number of new infections has fallen sharply, as recently under the headline: „Ebola: First optimism in Liberia“ was reported.

Plague has already killed more than 8,400 people
On Monday, the schools and universities in Guinea due to the improved situation with almost four months late to open again. In Liberia, where schools have been closed since the end of July 2014, the start is scheduled for 2 February. According to the latest WHO data, more than 8,400 people have died from Ebola and nearly 21,300 people have become infected. Nearly all fatalities were reported in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, the countries most affected by the disease. Despite intensive research, there is still no cure or approved vaccine against the disease. In the coming weeks, however, major vaccine trials are due to start in the epidemic areas. (Ad)