EVD in Cote d’Ivoire

On 14 August 2021, the government of Cote d’Ivoire reported its first case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) since 1994. The patient, an 18-year-old who had recently travelled by road from Labe in Guinea to Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire, was admitted to hospital on 12 August 2021 with a fever. The infection was later confirmed as being caused by EVD, though it is not yet clear if this case is linked to a recent EVD outbreak that ended in Guinea in June 2021.

Advice for travellers 

• EVD is a viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) and the risk to travellers of becoming infected or developing EBV is reported as being extremely low.  
• Travellers to known Ebola outbreak areas must be made aware of the risk of infection and transmission routes of Ebola virus.  
• Medical personnel travelling to work in an outbreak region must follow strict infection prevention control guidance.  
• Travellers returning from an Ebola outbreak area should seek rapid medical attention if they develop flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, diarrhoea or general malaise, within 21 days after return. They should call NHS24 (Scotland), NHS111 (England and Wales) or contact their GP by telephone. While EVD is unlikely, the returning traveller should mention any potential exposure to the virus, including dates and itinerary of travel.

Further information and advice on viral haemorrhagic fever is available on the TRAVAX (for health professionals) and fitfortravel (for the general public) websites.

Source: TRAVAX, 16 August 2021