On Tuesday, the World Health Organization said that Guinea no longer has transmission of the Ebola virus for the first time since a deadly epidemic swept the country and two neighbors, Sierra Leone and Liberia, starting in December, 2013. Barring any hidden cases, this marks the end of the outbreak, which killed more than 11,000 people and sickened 28,000 more in 10 countries, sowing panic around the world. "This is a very big victory for the nation and the people of Guinea," said Fode Tass Sylla, a spokesman for the country’s Ebola task force.
The milestone in Guinea means that two 21-day incubation periods have come and gone since the last Ebola infection, in a 3-week-old girl who survived (and is pictured above). Public health officials will be watching the country closely over the next three months in case the virus re-emerges, as it did in Liberia. Guinea isn't waiting to celebrate the end to its long ordeal: On Wednesday, the government is planning a celebration in Conakry, the capital, with popular musicians helping end the dark year on a happier note.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Today's political cartoons - December 21, 2024Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - losing it, pedal to the metal, and more
-
Three fun, festive activities to make the magic happen this Christmas DayInspire your children to help set the table, stage a pantomime and write thank-you letters this Christmas!
-
The best books of 2024 to give this ChristmasThe Week Recommends From Percival Everett to Rachel Clarke these are the critics' favourite books from 2024
-
California declares bird flu emergencySpeed Read The emergency came hours after the nation's first person with severe bird flu infection was hospitalized
-
Bird flu one mutuation from human threat, study findsSpeed Read A Scripps Research Institute study found one genetic tweak of the virus could enable its spread among people
-
Dark chocolate tied to lower diabetes riskSpeed Read The findings were based on the diets of about 192,000 US adults over 34 years
-
ACA opens 2025 enrollment, enters 2024 raceSpeed Read Mike Johnson promises big changes to the Affordable Care Act if Trump wins the election
-
McDonald's sued over E. coli linked to burgerSpeed Read The outbreak has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states and left one dead
-
Texas dairy worker gets bird flu from infected cowSpeed Read The virus has been spreading among cattle in Texas, Kansas, Michigan and New Mexico
-
Dengue hits the Americas hard and earlySpeed Read Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic as dengue cases surge
-
US bans final type of asbestosSpeed Read Exposure to asbestos causes about 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year
