Kenya has discharged the last patient confirmed to be infected with Ebola, triggering the start of a 42‑day countdown that will determine whether the country can be declared free of the virus, health officials said.
The 42‑day period is a standard requirement set by the World Health Organization; it begins after the final confirmed case tests negative and is used to ensure that no new transmissions occur before a country is officially declared Ebola‑free.
The outbreak, which began earlier this year, prompted a coordinated response from Kenya’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and regional partners, who implemented surveillance, contact tracing and public‑health measures to contain the disease.
During the countdown, Kenyan authorities will maintain heightened monitoring at hospitals and border points, continue testing any suspected cases and keep the public informed of any developments.
If no additional cases are recorded during the monitoring period, Kenya will join the list of nations that have successfully eliminated Ebola transmission, marking a significant public‑health milestone for the East African country.
<small>Source: BBC News — read the original story there.</small>
