Ebola in Cote d'Ivoire

Cote d’Ivoire has reported its first case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) since 1994.

The case is an 18-year-old person who travelled from Labe, Guinea to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire by road on 11 August 2021. The person was admitted to hospital the following day with a fever. On 14 August 2021, the infection was confirmed to be caused by EVD.

It is not yet clear if this case is linked to a recent EVD outbreak that ended in Guinea in June 2021.

Advice to travellers

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF). It is spread through contact with the blood, body fluids or organs of a person or animal with the infection.

The risk to travellers becoming infected or developing Ebola Virus Disease is 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 by contacting NHS 24 (Scotland) or NHS 111 (rest of UK) for advice prior to attending UK medical facilities if they develop fever and have:

• Returned to the UK within 21 days from a region or area with a known outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease.
• Had contact with individuals infected with a VHF.

For further information see TRAVAX Viral Haemorrhagic Fever page.