Ebola Virus Disease in Sierra Leone (Update)

27 May 2014

On 25 May 2014, the Ministry of Health for Sierra Leone notified WHO of a laboratory confirmed case of Ebola virus disease (EVD). The case was identified in the chiefdom of Koindu which borders with the EVD outbreak area of Guekedou in Guinea. Four deaths in the community have also been attributed to EVD although this has not been laboratory confirmed.

WHO is supporting the national authorities of Sierra Leone with the response to the outbreak.

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.