Ebola Virus Disease in Mali (Update)

20 Nov 2014

As of 19 November 2014, a total of six confirmed and probable cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported to WHO; this figure includes 5 fatalities. The most recent cases have been indentified in the capital city of Bamako. The cases in this report are not related to the first case of EVD in Mali; the 2-year-old girl who died on 24 November 2014. All the contacts of the first case have completed the 21 day follow up.

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.