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Statement on the 9th Meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee on Ebola in West Africa

01 April 2016

On 29 March 2016, the 9th meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) regarding the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa took place.

Since the last meeting, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have interrupted the original chain of Ebola virus transmission. The three countries have now completed the 42 day observation period and additional 90 day enhanced surveillance since their last case (linked to the original chain of transmission) had two negative laboratory results for Ebola virus.

New clusters of Ebola cases have continued to occur as expected. Twelve clusters have been reported thus far; the most recent in Guinea was reported on 17 March 2016, and is ongoing. The early identification and swift response to the EVD clusters has meant that transmission was limited.

The Committee decided that Ebola transmission in West Africa no longer constitutes an extraordinary event, the risk of international spread is low, and that countries have the capacity to respond rapidly to new virus emergences. Therefore, the Temporary Recommendations put in place during the Ebola outbreak should be terminated.