For the first time since the outbreak started, Sierra Leone reported no new Ebola cases, a small sign of progress for health officials.
The World Health Organization reported Monday that this was the first week with no cases, but the country still has a ways to go to get Ebola free. The organization says the use of rapid response teams and strong community involvement in finding Ebola cases yielded results in the country.
Sierra Leone was one of three West African countries, alongside Guinea and Liberia, that were hit the hardest by the Ebola outbreak that killed more than 11,000 people.
Sierra Leone itself had nearly 4,000 deaths from Ebola, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By contrast, Guinea experienced about 2,500 cases and Liberia the most with 4,800.
Sierra Leone still has a long wait to becoming Ebola free. The WHO did not declare Liberia free from the deadly disease until May when no new cases were presented after 42 days.
Even then the proclamation was premature. Last month Liberia saw two confirmed cases of Ebola.
