The number of new cases of Ebola, described as a “threat to international peace and security” in September 2014, has consistently fallen during the past month. This relates to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, which are the three hardest-hit countries. This is according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report.
According to the official figures, there were eight new cases in Liberia in the week to January 18 (Liberia had over 300 cases per week in August and September). With Sierra Leone, 118 new cases were reported that week, down from 284 cases two weeks before. Ebola has claimed over 8,600 lives since the outbreak began in December 2013.
As a result of the decline in cases, Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma announced he would lift travel restrictions in the country. Liberian Deputy Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah has stated that his country is edging close to zero cases.
Meanwhile, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that the first Ebola vaccine trials in West Africa would begin in Liberia within “weeks.” Here up to 27,000 Liberians will be treated with vaccine candidates that have already passed Phase 1 safety training in trials .
