While we are all aware of the struggle now taking place in West Africa to stop the spread of the latest Ebola epidemic, questions continue to arise among staff personnel that indicate a need for increased awareness regarding what Ebola is, where it comes from, how it is spread, how it can be avoided, what symptoms does it display, and exactly what risk does the disease pose to all of us who work and travel abroad.  Airlines are now curtailing flights to certain countries, countries are closing or severely restricting movement across their borders, and we recently witnessed the probable Ebola death of a man arriving by air in a country that previously had not been affected by the current outbreak.  Moreover, there is a growing concern over the efficacy of medevac capabilities for individuals who contract the disease.  In reality, there is no effective cure or drugs that can stop Ebola so treatment is often limited to administration of fluids, rest, and isolation.  As a result, there is little point in arranging medevac flights because no one can be taken to a location where a cure can be administered or a treatment regimen significantly improved.  Regular medevac providers rarely have the required isolation pods required to carry a person with confirmed Ebola and most countries will not allow either the departure or arrival of known Ebola victims.  In addition, we are now finding that aviation authorities are not willing to permit overflights by aircraft carrying a person(s) with confirmed Ebola virus.    

     On 28 July, the US Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia issued the Message to US Citizens that I am copying below for your review.  While it focuses on the US community in Liberia, the recommendations and observations clearly apply to everyone.  I especially suggest you review and become familiar with the 9 points listed that outline important information regarding the transmission of Ebola and precautions you might take to protect yourself.  At the risk of understating or oversimplifying this very serious concern, there are very clear and limited ways that Ebola can be transmitted which include: coming into contact with an ill (or deceased) person’s blood or body fluids, sick wildlife, or infected bushmeat. 

     In addition to this recent US Embassy notice, I will be sending you separately an e-mail that will provide you a summary of the impact of this current outbreak and a historic perspective on the Ebola virus since it first appeared in the late 1970s.  My next e-mail contains a short video interview with a research doctor who has been working to fight Ebola since it was first recognized.  I recommend you click on the link for the video for additional background.  

U.S. Embassy Monrovia, Liberia

Message for U.S. Citizens: Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

July 28, 2014

There continues to be active transmission of Ebola virus disease in Liberia, with the total number of cases of confirmed, probable, and suspected infection at over 300.  The most affected counties are Lofa, Montserrado, Bong, and Bomi.  However, cases have been found in other counties as well. Representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), experts in viral diseases, continue to assist the Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW). CDC is supporting the MOHSW with coordination of the public health response, including public health messaging, surveillance, case identification, contact tracing and data management. DTRA is providing support for laboratory testing and diagnosis.

The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens that Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a rare but deadly disease. The risk to most travelers is low, but travelers could be infected if they come into contact with an ill person’s blood or body fluids, sick wildlife, or infected bushmeat.

Following are some of the more important points about transmission of the Ebola virus and precautions to protect you.

·         Initial signs and symptoms of Ebola virus disease (EVD) include sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat.  This may progress to vomiting, diarrhea, and external or internal bleeding.

·         Human to human transmission is only achieved by physical contact with the body fluids of a person who is acutely ill or who has died from Ebola.

·         When a person is sick, it is possible to contract the virus by coming into contact with his or her blood and body fluids (to include vomit, feces, urine, breast milk, semen and sweat).

·         Transmission among humans is mainly among caregiver family members or health care workers tending to the very ill, or in preparation of the body of a deceased case for burial .

·         The virus is killed by contact with soap, bleach, sunlight, or drying.  A washing machine and use of detergent will kill the virus in clothing contaminated with infected body fluids.

·         A person can have the virus without symptoms for 2-21 days, the average being 5 to 8 days before becoming ill.  The person is not contagious until they are acutely ill.

·         As always, practice good hand hygiene and hand washing techniques. 

·         If a person has possibly been in contact with someone who has known or suspected Ebola infection and develops symptoms or signs of infection, he or she should seek medical care immediately.

·         Seeking medical care quickly increases the chance of survival.

To obtain Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel notices, call the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) from within the United States, or 1-404-639-3534 from overseas, or visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.For more information on Ebola hemorrhagic fever, please visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola. 

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at www.Travel.State.Gov.  STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency.  If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

You can stay in touch and get Embassy updates by checking the U.S. Embassy Monrovia website.  You can also get global updates at the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website where you can find the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warning, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook to have travel information at your fingertips.  If you don't have internet access, current information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers from other countries, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The U.S. Embassy in Monrovia is located 502 Benson Street, Monrovia, Liberia, and is open Mon – Thursday 0800- 1730 and Fridays 0800-1300; (Tel: 231 776 777 000).  If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance, the emergency number for the U.S. Embassy is: 077-677-7000 (press 1 at the prompt).