More information has emerged on the Ebola case reported last week, as relief agencies report an improvement in the condition of the patient hospitalised in Abidjan, an 18-year old female. Her travel from Guinea earlier this month took five days and included a night in Nzérékoré, the epicentre of this year’s Ebola outbreak. More than 200 contacts, including fellow bus passengers, are being monitored; the woman’s spouse is suspected to be infected also. The reports notes that the infected traveller was symptomatic when she crossed into Côte d’Ivoire, suggesting that infection could have occurred before leaving her home in Labe and therefore, potentially, the existence of unknown chains of transmission. Read more
Advice for travellers
Ebola virus disease is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever found in humans and other primates (such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). It spreads through families and friends in close contact with blood and infectious secretions of people with obvious symptoms and, as such, presents a low risk to tourists to the affected countries. Read more about Ebola virus disease.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.