Nigeria has been declared officially free of Ebola after six weeks with no new cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.
WHO representative Rui Gama Vaz, speaking in the capital Abuja, said it was a "spectacular success story".
Nigeria won praise for its swift response after a Liberian diplomat brought the disease in July.
The disease gained entry into the country in July when Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, came in on diplomatic assignment.
The
diplomat had fallen ill and was admitted at the First Consultants
Hospital, Obalende, in Lagos. Nigeria had 20 cases in total, of which
eight died.
The outbreak has killed more than 4,500 people in West Africa, mostly in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.
An estimated 70% of those infected have died in those countries.
Official Statement By WHO country representative, Rui Gama Vaz
Today
20th October, 42 days(twice the incubation period) after the last
confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease was discharged from the isolation
ward having tested negative for Ebola virus, the chains of transmission
have been broken.
WHO officially declares that Nigeria is now
free of Ebola virus transmission. The virus is gone for now. The
outbreak in Nigeria has been contained. But we must be clear that we
only won a battle. The war will only end when West Africa is also
declared free of Ebola. While the outbreak is now officially over,
Nigeria’s geographical position and extensive borders makes the country
vulnerable to additional imported cases of Ebola Virus Disease. It is
therefore critical to continue vigilance for any suspected cases by
strict compliance with WHO EVD preparedness guidelines. Therefore there
is need to continue to work together with states to ensure adequate
preparedness to
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