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Ebola crisis: Nigeria set to be declared free of virus | Ebola crisis: Nigeria set to be declared free of virus |
(35 minutes later) | |
Nigeria is expected to be declared officially free of Ebola on Monday, after six weeks with no new cases. | Nigeria is expected to be declared officially free of Ebola on Monday, after six weeks with no new cases. |
Africa's most populous country won praise for its swift response after an infected Liberian diplomat brought the disease there in July. | Africa's most populous country won praise for its swift response after an infected Liberian diplomat brought the disease there in July. |
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared Senegal Ebola-free on Friday. | The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared Senegal Ebola-free on Friday. |
The current outbreak has killed more than 4,500 people in West Africa, most in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone | The current outbreak has killed more than 4,500 people in West Africa, most in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone |
An estimated 70% of those infected have died in those countries. | An estimated 70% of those infected have died in those countries. |
Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to discuss how to strengthen their response to the threat posed by Ebola. | Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to discuss how to strengthen their response to the threat posed by Ebola. |
European countries have committed more than 500m euros (£400m; $600m) but the UK is pressing to double that amount. | European countries have committed more than 500m euros (£400m; $600m) but the UK is pressing to double that amount. |
The money is being sought to help reinforce over-stretched healthcare systems in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea and to mitigate the damage Ebola is doing to their economies. | The money is being sought to help reinforce over-stretched healthcare systems in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea and to mitigate the damage Ebola is doing to their economies. |
Ahead of the talks, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier suggested the EU could send a civilian EU mission to West Africa that would serve as a platform for sending medical staff. | |
Another diplomat said there were plans for three countries to spearhead aid to the region - the UK for Sierra Leone, France for Guinea and the US for Liberia. | |
Earlier, the Spanish government said a nurse who became the first person to contract Ebola outside West Africa had tested negative for the virus. | Earlier, the Spanish government said a nurse who became the first person to contract Ebola outside West Africa had tested negative for the virus. |
The result suggests Teresa Romero, 44, is no longer infected although a second test is required before she can be declared free of Ebola. | The result suggests Teresa Romero, 44, is no longer infected although a second test is required before she can be declared free of Ebola. |
Ms Romero contracted the virus when treating two infected patients in a Madrid hospital. | Ms Romero contracted the virus when treating two infected patients in a Madrid hospital. |
In another development, US health officials said most of the people quarantined after coming into contact with Ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan had been given the all-clear. The 21-day monitoring period applied to about 50 people. | |
Two nurses at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas became infected with Ebola after treating Mr Duncan, who was from Liberia. He died on 8 October. | Two nurses at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas became infected with Ebola after treating Mr Duncan, who was from Liberia. He died on 8 October. |
On Sunday, the Pentagon announced it would prepare a 30-person rapid reaction medical support team that could provide help to civilian doctors in the US confronted with possible Ebola cases. | |
It said the team would not be sent to West Africa. | |
Nigeria praised | Nigeria praised |
The WHO can declare an Ebola outbreak over if two incubation periods of 21 days pass with no new cases. The last reported case in Nigeria was discovered on 5 September, and the country is now on the verge of a clean bill of health. | The WHO can declare an Ebola outbreak over if two incubation periods of 21 days pass with no new cases. The last reported case in Nigeria was discovered on 5 September, and the country is now on the verge of a clean bill of health. |
The BBC's Will Ross in Lagos says that although the nation is heaving a collective sigh of relief, experts warn that Ebola will probably return to Nigeria. | The BBC's Will Ross in Lagos says that although the nation is heaving a collective sigh of relief, experts warn that Ebola will probably return to Nigeria. |
The outbreak there began when Patrick Sawyer, an American-Liberian citizen, was diagnosed with the illness in July. | The outbreak there began when Patrick Sawyer, an American-Liberian citizen, was diagnosed with the illness in July. |
Nigeria declared a national public health emergency and Mr Sawyer later died of the disease, followed by seven Nigerians. | |
These included Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, who diagnosed Mr Sawyer and is credited with helping to contain the outbreak at its source. | |
Dr Adadevoh's son, Bankole Cardoso, told the BBC that because Mr Sawyer had been so quickly diagnosed, Nigeria was able to trace all those who could possibly have contracted the disease from him. | |
"That was probably the difference between us and our West African neighbours," he said. | |
John Vertefeuille, from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that Nigeria had taken the right steps to contain the outbreak. | John Vertefeuille, from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that Nigeria had taken the right steps to contain the outbreak. |
"Nigeria acted quickly and early and on a large scale" he told AFP news agency. "They acted aggressively, especially in terms of contact-tracing", he added. | "Nigeria acted quickly and early and on a large scale" he told AFP news agency. "They acted aggressively, especially in terms of contact-tracing", he added. |
Ebola virus disease (EVD) | Ebola virus disease (EVD) |
Ebola virus: Busting the myths | Ebola virus: Busting the myths |