EVD outbreaks in the DRC and Guinea

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Guinea have declared new outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD).

The DRC confirmed a new case in North Kivu Province on 7 February 2021. As of 1 March 2021, there have been 11 confirmed cases and four deaths reported by the DRC Ministry of Health, with all confirmed cases reported so far located in the North Kivu province.

Health authorities in Guinea declared an Ebola outbreak in N’Zérékoré region on 14 February 2021, which is the first time EVD has been reported in Guinea since the end of the 2014 to 2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak. The Ministry of Health of Guinea have reported that, as of 2 March 2021, there have been 13 confirmed cases and four probable cases associated with this outbreak.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting Guinea with surveillance, infection prevention and control of health facilities, local community engagement and Ebola vaccine procurement.

Advice for travellers 

• EVD is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) and the risk to travellers becoming infected or developing EBV 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 EBV 
  • contacted individuals infected with a VHF

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

Sources: TRAVAX, 5 March 2021 and TRAVAX, 5 March 2021