Ebola Downgraded

WHO downgrades Ebola health risk saying it is no longer an “extraordinary health event” and that the risk of the virus spreading is low.

16:17 30 March 2016

The World Health Organisation no longer categorises Ebola as an “extraordinary health event”, which means that the disease is not thought to be a significant public health threat to countries outside of those affected in West Africa. 

 

Although a few cases have been reported in Guinea, no new incidents have been reported in Sierra Leone and Liberia in recent months.

 

However, experts warned countries to remain vigilant for new flare-ups of Ebola.

 

All original chains of Ebola transmission have ended in the three West African countries affected by the disease.

 

Ebola, which is carried in bodily fluids, is spread by close physical contact. It has been detected in blood, vomit, saliva and semen of male survivors. As such, the WHO has called for national and international efforts to ensure that affected patients have their semen checked to know if they can spread the infection.