The World Health Organization (WHO) has commended Guinea for declaring on Saturday an end to its latest Ebola outbreak.

The West African nation of nearly 13 million people announced an Ebola case on February 14, marking the second such outbreak in the country since the devastating 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic that swept through the region, killing 11,300 in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

During the latest Ebola outbreak in Guinea, a total of 16 confirmed and seven probable cases were reported, with 11 patients surviving and 12 losing their lives.

"I commend the affected communities, the government and people of Guinea, health workers, partners and everyone else whose dedicated efforts made it possible to contain this Ebola outbreak," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General. “Based on the lessons learned from the 2014–16 outbreak and through rapid, coordinated response efforts, community engagement, effective public health measures and the equitable use of vaccines, Guinea managed to control the outbreak and prevent its spread beyond its borders. Our work in Guinea continues, including supporting survivors to access post-illness care."

On her part, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, called for vigilance to prevent any resurgence of the virus.

"Although this Ebola outbreak flared up in the same area as the West Africa one which killed 11 000 people, thanks to new innovations and lessons learned, Guinea managed to contain the virus in four months," she said. "We are getting faster, better and smarter at fighting Ebola. But while this outbreak is over, we must stay alert for a possible resurgence and ensure the expertise in Ebola expands to other health threats such as COVID-19."

The Ebola virus causes hemorrhagic fever and spreads from person to person through direct contact with bodily fluids. It kills around half of those it infects.

The world's first Ebola vaccine was approved for use in November 2019 after more than two decades of research.

Vaccines are seen as key in the fight to eradicate the deadly virus.