Liberia is free of Ebola, says World Health Organization

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — The World Health Organization says Liberia is now free of Ebola after going 42 days — twice the maximum incubation period for the deadly disease — without any new cases.

Elsewhere in West Africa, however, new cases were reported this week in neighboring Sierra Leone and in Guinea, the other two countries hit hardest by the worst Ebola outbreak in history.

Officials and survivors said they are cautious about openly celebrating the end of Ebola in Liberia, as the continued presence of the disease in the region means just one sick patient slipping over the border into Liberia could spark a resurgence of cases.

WHO has recorded more than 4,700 Ebola deaths in Liberia, more than any other affected country. There have been more than 11,000 deaths in West Africa.

• World Health Organization
• Liberia