The Ebola outbreak which started in December 2013 has killed thousands of people in West Africa. However, Liberia which is one of the worst hit countries, said on Monday that there are currently only five confirmed cases of Ebola in the country. This is a turnaround in the country since they had the most number of deaths from the virus.
Based on the latest data released by the World Health Organization on January 21, there are a total of 21,724 cases of Ebola throughout the outbreak wherein 8,641 people died. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an updated list on January 23 wherein the number of cases amounted to 21,797 and the death toll has reached 8,675.
At the peak of the outbreak in August last year, Liberia has recorded more than 300 new cases of Ebola each week and today, around 3,636 citizens of the country died of Ebola. However, a dramatic turnaround happened as the country is witnessing the slow waning of the outbreak. Last Monday, they announced that there are only five people in the country being treated for the potentially deadly virus.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf mentioned in her state of the nation address, "Our hospitals and clinics as well as our schools closed down. People ran away from their families and homes. Our economy was on the verge of collapse. I can say today that despite all of this that our nation has remained strong, our people resilient."
When the outbreak emerged in 2013 and reached Liberia by the early months of 2014, the initial response of the government and health agencies was weak. However, with the efforts they made in the purpose of curtailing the virus, the infection rate has slowed down.
Sierra Leone and Guinea also experienced the wrath of the Ebola virus due to towering case rates and death toll. However, their infection rate has also decreased drastically. However, health officials cautioned that it is still early to declare Liberia as Ebola free.
The bad thing about viral diseases is that when a new infection takes place, it can spread like wildfire. Still, they are recommending infection control measures and safe burial practices to prevent the transmission of infection.