Ebola Virus – Epidemiological Update for West Africa as of December 22, 2014. The WHO reports a total of 19,348 cases (suspected, probable, and confirmed) and 7,524 deaths in the four currently affected countries in West Africa (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Mali).The three most affected countries (Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone) are reporting new cases distributed very unevenly across districts. Transmission is active in the capitals (Conakry, Freetown, and Monrovia). Transmission remains most intense in Sierra Leone, with 327 new confirmed cases.In Liberia, the number of new cases is decreasing. In Guinea, the number of new cases has been generally stable for several weeks, though this stability masks a highly varied situation across districts. In the three most affected countries, the WHO estimates the case fatality rate at 70% among Ebola cases for which the final clinical outcome is known.In Mali, where local transmission has been reported for the past four weeks in the capital, Bamako, the toll stands at 8 cases and 6 deaths. No new cases have been reported since November 25. All contacts have completed their follow-up period.