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On 12 May 2015, WHO was notified of the first laboratory-confirmed case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Italy.
The case is a volunteer healthcare worker returning from Sierra Leone. He flew from Freetown to Rome via Casablanca, Morocco on 7 May 2015.
The healthcare worker developed symptoms on 10 May, 72 hours after his return to Italy; he was admitted to hospital on 11 May 2015. Laboratory samples tested at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (INMI) Lazzaro Spallanzani of Rome on 12 May, confirmed EVD infection.
The patient was transferred from the Hospital in Sassari to the INMI in Rome by the specially equipped aircraft of the Italian Air Force, to assure high-containment precautions.
As symptoms began 72 hours after the last flight, contact tracing of the passengers was considered unnecessary.
Healthcare workers in Sassari who attended the patient, wore appropriate personal protective equipment and are now under surveillance, as are the close contacts of the case.
(Via WHO Global Alert and Response - accessed 14/05/15)
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.
• Further information on Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers.
