WHO declares Ebola epidemic ends.

From the Lusa News Agency

The Ebola epidemic has been eradicated from Liberia, after 42 days without any new cases being recorded, announced Alex Gasasira, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Monrovia, the country's capital, on Saturday (9).

 "Today, May 9, 2015, the WHO declares Liberia free of Ebola virus transmission," he said at a ceremony attended by the country's president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

 “Forty-two days have passed since the last case was confirmed in the laboratory. The epidemic in Liberia is over,” Gasasira added, highlighting that this is a “monumental achievement” for the country.

The calculation was based on doubling the maximum incubation period of the virus, 21 days, after the last death, with no new cases emerging.

In one year, Liberia recorded more than 4,7 deaths and 10,5 cases. The peak of the epidemic occurred between August and September 2014, with 300 to 400 new cases reported weekly.

Alex Gasasira praised the determination of the government and the country's population in fighting the epidemic, which was the worst since the virus was detected in 1976.

The president thanked the population for their efforts in this regard and remembered the 189 professionals who fought against the disease and died.

Despite the announcement, Liberia will have to remain vigilant, as neighboring Sierra Leone and Guinea are still facing the epidemic.

In total, the virus has killed more than 11 people, out of 26,5 identified cases, mainly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.