Rapid risk assessment: Outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa - Second update, 9 June 2014
The outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa with onset in early December 2013 in Guinea now involves three countries: Guinea, Liberia and most recently Sierra Leone. This is the first documented EVD outbreak in these countries. By week 14 of 2014, it looked like the control measures would bring the outbreak to a halt but the situation has now evolved in another direction. In week 22 of 2014, there was an unexpected surge in the number of new cases and the outbreak spread to previously unaffected areas in Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Executive Summary
ECDC re-assesses the risk of introduction and transmission of Ebola virus to the EU associated with the evolving outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, following an unexpected surge in the number of new cases and the spread of the outbreak to previously unaffected areas in Guinea and Sierra Leone. The outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa with onset in early December 2013 in Guinea now involves three countries: Guinea, Liberia and most recently Sierra Leone. This is the first documented EVD outbreak in these countries. For tourists, visitors or residents in affected areas, the risk of infection is still considered very low if elementary precautions are followed, such as avoiding contact with symptomatic patients or dead bodies and their bodily fluids, concludes the risk assessment. Generic precautions for travelling in West African countries also apply for preventing infection with Ebola virus, e.g. avoiding close contacts with live or dead wild animals, washing and peeling fruit and vegetables before consumption, practising ‘safe sex’ and following hand-washing routines.
