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Imported Case of Ebola Virus Disease in Mali

24 Oct 2014

On the 23 October 2014 the Mali Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene confirmed an imported case of Ebola virus disease.

The case (a two year old girl) arrived from neighbouring Guinea and was admitted to Fousseyni Daou Kayes Hospital on 22 October 2014, the Mali government has reported that the girl’s health is improving.

The Mali government has also advised that contacts of the affected girl have been identified and all necessary precautions have been taken to prevent onward transmission of Ebola virus disease.

Advice for Travellers

The risk of travellers becoming infected or developing EVD is extremely low, unless there has been direct contact with blood or bodily fluids of dead or living infected persons or animals. Healthcare workers are at particular risk, although practising appropriate infection control should effectively prevent transmission of disease in this setting.

Travellers returning from tropical countries should always seek rapid medical attention if they develop flu-like symptoms (such as fever, headache, diarrhoea or general malaise) within three weeks after return, and be reminded to mention to their health care provider that they have recently travelled.