Ebola Virus Disease (Ebola)

Ebola first emerged as a disease in humans in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central
Africa. Outbreaks have emerged over the years, however the first in West Africa is ongoing and
between February and July 2014, the countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have reported
1,201 cases with 672 of them fatal.

The origin of the virus is unknown, but the likely host is the fruit bat. Humans can be infected if they
come in contact with the blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, stool, semen) of infected patients or
animals, or with environments that have been contaminated with these infectious fluids. Infected
individuals are not contagious until they present with symptoms which typically include fever, intense
weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. The timeframe from exposure to the onset of
symptoms can range from 2 - 21 days.

There is no vaccine to prevent Ebola, though some vaccine candidates are being studied, and there is
no specific treatment to cure infected individuals. The symptoms are typically severe and
hospitalization and intensive supportive care is required. One of the biggest challenges health officials
have faced in battling the outbreak is community denial that the disease is real. Additional factors
include the vast geographic area impacted, the substantial movement of people between rural and
urban areas and across national borders, and the often limited access of these areas to public health
professionals. The institution of public health measures such as the isolation of the ill patient and the
strict practice of infectious control measures by health care workers can be very effective in curbing
the spread of the disease.

Those most at risk of contracting Ebola include:

 Health workers
 Family members or others in close contact with infected people
 Mourners who have direct contact with the bodies of the deceased as part of burial
ceremonies
 Hunters in the rain forest who come into contact with dead animals

Advice
 Travelers should avoid all contact with infected patients.
 Health workers traveling to affected areas should strictly follow WHO-recommended infection
control guidance.
 Anyone who has stayed in areas where cases were recently reported should be aware of the
symptoms of infection and seek medical attention at the first sign of illness.
 Clinicians caring for travelers returning from affected areas with compatible symptoms are
advised to consider the possibility of Ebola virus disease.

The World Health Organization does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions to these West
African countries; however cross-border travel between Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone may be
impacted due to local infection control measures.

We continue to monitor the situation closely and will be providing relevant updates on this
website. The risk of infection for travelers is very low since person-to-person transmission results from
direct contact with the body fluids or secretions of an infected patient.

Reference sources:
The World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/faq-ebola/en/)
The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/guinea/index.html?s_cid=cdc_homepage_whatsnew_001
European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control
(http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/press/news/_layouts/forms/News_DispForm.aspx?List=8db7286c-fe2d-476c-
9133-18ff4cb1b568&ID=1035)