Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa (Update)

03 Feb 2015

For the first time since 29 June 2014, less than 100 new confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported in one week, between Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. A combined total of 99 confirmed cases were recorded in the week to 25 January 2015: 30 in Guinea, 4 in Liberia, and 65 in Sierra Leone.

In Liberia and Sierra Leone, the incidence of new cases continues to fall. Guinea reported 30 confirmed cases in the week to 25 January, up from 20 confirmed cases in the previous week.

As of 25 January 2015, more than 22 000 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of EVD and almost 8800 deaths have been reported to WHO by the Ministries of Health for Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The distribution of the cases in West Africa is listed below, case numbers include confirmed, probable and suspected:

• Guinea - 2917 cases and 1910 deaths, cases in last 21 days 92.
• Liberia - 8622 cases and 3686 deaths, cases in last 21 days 20.
• Sierra Leone - 10 518 cases and 3199 deaths, cases in last 21 days 366.

Advice for Travellers

The risk of travellers becoming infected or developing Ebola haemorrhagic fever 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.