Liberia held a day of celebration on Monday with an official government ceremony to mark the end of the Ebola epidemic in the country.
Some gathered in the streets of the capital city of Monrovia to celebrate the end of the devastating crisis in the country, many wearing white and yellow ribbons that have come to signify the fight to contain the disease.
Some in the crowd held signs and cheered as leaders addressed the dignitaries and healthcare workers. A group of school children stood in a gallery overlooking the main floor, decked out with banners and the Liberian flag.
The festivities come two days after the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared Liberia Ebola-free, 42 days since the burial of the last confirmed Ebola case.
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf thanked international aid organizations and humanitarian groups for coming to Liberia’s aid when the news broke on Saturday, and applauded Liberia for its own work.
“Liberia rejoices today as we finally cross the Rubicon, defeating this unknown enemy in what some call record time," Sirleaf told the BBC on Saturday. "We mourn the loss of over 4,000 of our loved ones, especially our brave doctors and healthcare workers."
Celebrations in Monrovia of #Liberia being declared #Ebola free by the World Health Organization. We are waiting for Madam President. The end of an era (fingers crossed). #Liberia With @cariyell @wadesugar @iamjimtuttle A photo posted by Clair MacDougall (@clairmacd) on May 11, 2015 at 7:04am PDT
More than 4,700 people died during the Ebola crisis in Liberia, the country hardest hit by the outbreak. Ebola continues to claim victims in Sierra Leone and Guinea, where health officials have had difficulty tracing new cases.
The outbreak was described the the WHO as the "most complex outbreak" since Ebola first emerged in 1976. During August and September, when transmission was at its highest level, Liberia was reporting from 300 to 400 new cases of Ebola each week.
Official #Ebola free celebrations aboeut to get underway in Monrovia #Liberia pic.twitter.com/4hGDjwaDLe— Katerina Vittozzi (@kvittozzi) May 11, 2015
But even though the Liberia is celebrating, two neighboring countries -- Guinea and Sierra Leone -- are still facing new Ebola cases. The week May 3, the last numbers officially released by the WHO, indication that Guinea and Sierra Leone each reported 9 new cases of Ebola. While this is the lowest weekly number of new cases that either country has seen so far in 2015, the WHO said in a statement it is "important to guard against complacency."
Sirleaf echoed the calls of the World Health organization, saying Liberia will "remain vigilant" and continue preventative measures while working to rebuild and upgrade healthcare resources, train workers and empower communities to combat the disease.
A proud lady in #Liberia as country holds official #Ebola free celebration in the capital pic.twitter.com/yxUxcrPvEC— Katerina Vittozzi (@kvittozzi) May 11, 2015
The president of Togo along with guests from the African Union, Ghana and Nigeria attended the Liberian event on Monday.
Liberia's Chief Justice Francis Korkpor called the Ebola crisis "an unprovoked attack on our nation that posed a serious threat to the survival of our existence."
Some reporting from the Associated Press.