Ebola outbreak in West Africa (2013-2016)

This outbreak of Ebola virus disease begun in West Africa in December 2013, mainly affecting Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.  It was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 8 August 2014. The World Health Organization declared the end of Ebola transmission in Guinea on 29 December 2015, in Liberia on 14 January 2016, and in Sierra Leone on 17 March 2016. The risk of sporadic cases (flare-ups) remain, such as the one reported in a rural village in the prefecture of Nzérékoré, Guinea, on 18 March 2016.

WHO continues to stress that the countries are still at risk of sporadic transmission of Ebola, largely due to virus persistence in some survivors, and must remain on high alert and ready to respond. Strong surveillance and emergency response capacity need to be maintained, while care, screening and counselling also need to be provided for survivors.

Ebola missions to West Africa

As reinforcement to help fight Ebola in the affected West African countries, during the 2013-2016 outbreak, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control deployed French-speaking epidemiologists to support surveillance and response in Guinea.