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New cases of Ebola declining in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone
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The number of newly reported cases of Ebola virus disease were the lowest recorded in almost 5 months among West African countries hit hardest by the outbreak, according to a report.
The UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response’s External Situation Report collects data from WHO and other collaborating groups and agencies to monitor the progression of the outbreak, as well as the status of affected infrastructure and various resource mobilization programs. According to the report’s Jan. 15 publication, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone each recorded lower new case counts that had not been seen since the summer of 2014.
Each country has sufficient capacity to isolate and treat diagnosed Ebola patients, according to WHO Ebola Response Roadmap Update, from which the report cites its data. Although more than two treatment beds are available per reported confirmed and probable case, underreporting and uneven distribution means these resources are not available to all patients. Safe burials gauged similarly, with the trend of underreported deaths implying that some burials within these countries could still be responsible for new disease transmissions.
Also included in the External Situation Report was a prediction from Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma. While visiting the Port Loko, Tonkolili and Bombali areas in northern Sierra Leone, he reportedly told media that the country would be free of the Ebola virus by May.
As of Jan. 14, Ebola virus disease is responsible for 21,296 cases and 8,429 deaths worldwide, according to WHO.