On Tuesday morning, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Guinea free of Ebola virus transmission, for the first time ever since the detection of the epidemic in March 2014.

The three of the West African countries, including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, that were hardest hit by the epidemic are now known to have stopped the original chain of infections that as per experts started in December 2013 due to the undiagnosed illness of a young boy named Emile, who belonged to the village of Meliandou located in the forest region of Guinea.

Fode Tass Sylla, a spokesman for the country’s Ebola task force, has called it a big triumph for the nation and the people of Guinea. He was thankful to other countries, private charities and the health organization for their support.

Since the last ill person in Guinea, a 3-week-old girl, who was tested negative for the virus twice, two 21-day virus incubation cycles have passed. Now, the country has entered into a three-month long period of sharp surveillance. During the period, virus may re-emerge, as it has happened in neighboring Liberia twice after the country ended transmission.

As per estimates released by the WHO, the epidemic has taken over 11,000 lives, sickening more than 28,000 throughout 10 countries. Initially, responders failed to know the extent and danger of the outbreak. The outbreak crossed borders and inspired fear worldwide in no time. Since then, efforts have been taken at all levels to end the outbreak.