“Today’s discharge of patients shows that Ebola is not always fatal. Good, early supportive care such as hydration, nutrition and appropriate medication can have a positive impact,” says Dr Tom Fletcher, Infectious Disease Physician at WHO, who provides clinical care to Ebola patients in the Guinean capital Conakry.

Two patients were released on the morning of 3 April from the Ebola isolation ward at Donka national teaching hospital, having spent 7 days in the isolation ward after testing positive for Ebola virus.

Having been free of symptoms for 3 days and testing negative, they were allowed to re-join their family and friends. There are still 6 patients who remain in isolation.