West Africa is yet to see the last of Ebola.
But it won’t be too long before the region can be 100% clear off Ebola.
WHO says that halting the Ebola epidemic in West Africa by the end of this year is a realistic and appropriate goal.
World Health Organization reports that cases of Ebola have dropped from 35 a week to two this week, one each in Sierra Leone and Guinea.
But it cautions these numbers are likely to increase, as flare-ups of the disease are not uncommon.
The U.N. agency says the response to the epidemic has gotten much better. During the past few months, it says health workers have got a better grip on how to deal with chains of transmission.
WHO says health workers have become much better in identifying people who are infected with the Ebola virus and in tracing all those who have come in contact with the patient.
The World Health Organization announced on Friday that an experimental Ebola vaccine has been successful in clinical trials in Guinea.
So far, it’s been 100 percent effective in individuals according to the WHO. More than 4,000 adults who had close contact with an Ebola patient participated and they’re now moving to include teens and possibly children.
While more research is needed, specifically if it’s effective in large groups, the results are promising and could be key to preventing a future outbreak. Equally promising is the lowest weekly total (seven) of confirmed Ebola cases in more than a year for the week of July 26.
The virus has killed 11,295 people of 27,876 suspected, probable and confirmed cases according to the Centers for Disease Control.
According to the UN body, the number of cases of Ebola have gone down because fewer people who potentially could spread the disease are being missed. But he cautions against complacency, noting substantial risks from Ebola remains.
