One new confirmed case in previously Ebola-free Liberia: WHO

A new case of the Ebola virus has surfaced in Liberia, which was declared Ebola free in September this year. PHOTO: AFP

Geneva (AFP) - The World Health Organization on Friday confirmed that a new case of the deadly Ebola virus has surfaced in Liberia, which was declared Ebola free in September.

"There is one confirmed case," WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told AFP, without providing further details.

The west African nation, where thousands died at the height of the epidemic last year, was first declared Ebola free in May, only to see the fever resurface six weeks later, and again in September.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, Liberia has registered more than 10,600 cases and 4,808 deaths, according to the latest situation report from the UN health agency published earlier this week.

According to the latest toll given by WHO, the epidemic that started in December 2013 has left more than 11,300 dead, mainly in the west African states of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, out of almost 29,000 cases.

Friday's news comes just days after the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced the last known Ebola case in Guinea, a three-week old girl, had recovered.

Guinea still must wait 42 days with no cases before being declared Ebola free.

Sierra Leone was declared to have beaten the virus earlier this month.

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