Liberia declared Ebola free

Liberia has been declared Ebola free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after 42 days with no new cases. The West African nation was one of the worst hit by the deadly virus alongside neighbouring Guinea and Sierra Leone. In Liberian culture hugs, shaking hands and eating from communal bowls are an important part of the culture and many expressed relief at being able to return to normal.

The medical charity Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has urged caution until the worst outbreak of Ebola ever recorded is eradicated from the entire region however. The disease is spread through physical contact with infected people. 11,005 people are known to have died from the disease in the three worst hit countries since the epidemic began in December 2013.

The Liberian authorities have pledged to maintain heightened surveillance for at least a year after being declared Ebola free. There were fewer than 20 cases reported in Guinea and Sierra Leone last week. But The U.N. Special Envoy on Ebola, David Nabarro says it is expected to be still a few months before that number comes down to zero.