WHO declares end of Ebola outbreak in Guinea

The transmission of the Ebola virus has officially ended in Guinea, two years after an outbreak started in the African republic and spread to nine other countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of transmission of the deadly virus in a statement issued late yesterday.

"Forty-two days have passed since the last person confirmed to have Ebola virus disease tested negative for the second time," the statement read.  

The African republic will now enter a 90-day "heightened period of surveillance" to ensure that any new cases are identified before they can spread, WHO said.

"WHO commends the Government of Guinea and its people on the significant achievement of ending its Ebola outbreak," Guinea WHO representative Dr Mohamed Belhocine said.

"We must render homage to the government and people of Guinea who, in adversity, have shown extraordinary leadership in fighting the epidemic."

"WHO and its partners will continue to support Guinea during the next 90 days of heightened surveillance and in its early efforts to restart and strengthen essential health services throughout 2016."

The end of transmission in Guinea is an "important milestone" in fighting the outbreak in West Africa, WHO said.

A case in Gueckedou, Guinea, in late December 2013 sparked the original outbreak, which spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, and then to seven other countries by lander and air.

WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti said that countries needed to remain vigilant.

"This is the first time that all three countries – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – have stopped the original chains of transmission that were responsible for starting this devastating outbreak two years ago," Dr Moeti said.

One of the challenges faced in affected countries is Ebola's ability to survive in and be sexually transmitted by some male patients for up to a year, WHO said.