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Written By: Agencies | Published : January 19, 2015 1:01 PM IST
Bamako, Jan 19: The Malian government and the United Nations have declared the country free of Ebola after registering 42 days without any new cases of the deadly virus. 'I declare this day... the end of the epidemic of the Ebola virus in Mali,' Health Minister Ousmane Kone said yesterday. The west African country 'had come out' of the epidemic, confirmed Ibrahima Soce Fall, the head of the Malian office of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER).
Seven people died of Ebola in Mali. The first fatality in October was a two-year-old girl brought from neighbouring Guinea to stay with relatives. Shortly afterwards, a Muslim cleric, also from Guinea, died in the capital Bamako. He transmitted the virus, directly or indirectly, to seven other people, five of whom died. The last patient to be treated for Ebola in Mali made a full recovery and was discharged from hospital in early December. Here are 9 warning symptoms of Ebola that you should know
Read more about Ebola virus causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention
Countries must report no new cases for 42 days -- or two incubation periods of 21 days -- to be declared Ebola-free. A total 21,296 people have so far been infected with Ebola since the world's worst-ever outbreak began just over a year ago, and 8,429 of them have died, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization. The vast majority of the deaths occurred in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Here are some tips to prevent Ebola virus
Avoid crowded places: Direct contactis an easier way of transfer of virus. So, the sick should be isolated from healthy individuals to prevent spread of the disease.
Avoid contact with blood and body fluids: Ebola virus spreads through all body fluids including blood, semen, saliva, sweat, urine, fecal matter and vomit of infected individuals. Healthcare workers and medical staff who are more likely to come in contact with infected body fluids, infected needles and first aid, should handle them with protective gear. (Read: Ebola Facts: Top 7 myths busted)
Avoid unnecessary travel: According to Dr Ratan Kumar Vaish, senior consultant, department of medicine, Rockland Group of Hospitals, Delhi-NCR the best way is to avoid non-essential travelling to afflicted areas. Read more about 8 tips to prevent Ebola infection
With inputs from PTI
Photo source: Getty images
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