Ebola Virus Disease in Sierra Leone (Update)

22 Jan 2016

The Ministry of Health has confirmed a second case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Sierra Leone. The new case is said to be the aunt and caregiver of the first case who died on 12 January 2016. EVD was confirmed in the city of Magburaka, Tonkolili district of the Northern province. The woman is being cared for in the Military Hospital in Freetown.

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.