Dear Colleagues,
According to the WHO, the Ebola epidemic has taken 8,235 lives out of 20,747 known cases worldwide over the past year. Sierra Leone remains the worst affected country at present - although there are signs that cases may have levelled off. Reported case incidence continues to fluctuate in Guinea, with no discernible upward or downward trend. In Liberia, case incidence has declined from a peak of over 300 new confirmed cases per week to less than 50 cases. Twelve out of 15 districts in Liberia did not report any confirmed cases during the last reporting period and the country plans to reopen schools in February.
The UNMEER target of isolating and treating 100% of EVD cases is still not being met in some areas. Nor has the goal of conducting 100% of EVD burials safely and with dignity. Efforts to attain each target continue.
On 29 December, public health authorities in the United Kingdom confirmed a case of EVD in Glasgow. The patient is a healthcare worker who returned from volunteering in Sierra Leone. The patient has been isolated and is receiving treatment in London. Public health authorities have investigated all possible contacts of the case and no high risk contacts have been identified.
The last confirmed EVD case in Mali tested negative for the second time on 6 December, 2014, and was discharged from hospital on 11 December, 2014.If no other cases of Ebola occur, the outbreak in Mali will be officially declared over on 17 January. As of 6 January travelers from Mali are no longer required to undergo enhanced screening and monitoring when entering the United States, nor are they required to enter the country through the five designated airports that perform the screening. The Ebola outbreak in the United States is officially over.
Please email David Rolph, our director of Global Security, david_rolph@abtassoc.com and cc Sarah Dedic, sarah_dedic@abtassoc.com with any questions you have about the status of the outbreak.
Best,
Jay
Jay L. Knott | Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer | Abt Associates
O: 301-347-5896| F: 301-828-9739 | www.abtassociates.com
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