Ebola Update

On the 9 June 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the end of the most recent outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in Liberia. This is the last of three countries affected as Sierra Leone declared the end of Ebola human-to-human transmission on 17 March 2016, and Guinea did the same on 1 June 2016.

The epidemic first flared up in West Africa in 2014. The Director-General of the WHO terminated the outbreak’s Public Health Emergency of International Concern status in March 2016. However, the WHO has urged all three countries to keep alert for any new infections as preventing any future outbreaks requires constant vigilance.

Although the Ebola virus is no longer an active threat in West Africa, it’s still advisable to be familiar with its symptoms:

What should you know about Ebola?

• Ebola is not an airborne virus like flu nor is it a food-borne or water-borne illness. Ebola is transmitted from one person to another through contact with blood and other bodily fluids. Some viruses - such as flu - are easily transmitted, Ebola is not one of these viruses. You cannot get Ebola from a person who is infected but not yet symptomatic. In order for an individual to be infected, they would have to have contact with the blood or bodily fluids of a person who is infected.
• One imported case from Liberia and two locally-acquired cases in healthcare workers were reported in the United States. The CDC and the WHO, along with other partners, worked together to successfully prevent further spread of the virus in the United States. The CDC and WHO also dispatched supplies and medical personnel to Ebola-affected West African countries to help fight the outbreak. 
• Spain reported one case of Ebola and have since informed the public that results indicate that the patient's immune system has eliminated the virus from her body as she tested negative for any traces of Ebola. 

Additional information

• For a more in-depth discussion about the vast size of Africa and the distances between affected countries and other African countries, please consult our blog: Ebola in Perspective | Travel in Africa
• The Economist created a graphic depiction of the toll of the tragedy in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea: Ebola in graphics.
• Obama has urged Americans not to "(...) give into hysteria or fear. We have to keep this in perspective”. David Cameron echoed his sentiments by calling on other nations to assist in the fight against Ebola.
• To find out more about Nigeria's victory in the face of the Ebola crisis, read the Time's article, Nigeria is Ebola Free: Here's What They Did Right.
• Consult the CDC's website for a more in-depth look at how Ebola is transmitted from person to person.

Should you have any further questions or enquiries about travelling to Africa, please do not hesitate to Get free, no-obligation advice.