Ebola cases continue to occur in Guinea and Sierra Leone

In Guinea, 7 new cases of Ebola have been diagnosed, bringing the total so far to 351 confirmed and suspected cases with 226 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. However, Guinean ministry officials report 208 cases and 126 deaths. Kouroussa is a new district reporting a case. Overall, the affected districts include Conakry, Gueckedou, Macenta, Dabola, Kissidougou, Dinguiraye, Telimele, and Boffa.

In Sierra Leone, Ebola has spread, and the total number of reported cases so far has reached 89 confirmed and suspected cases with 7 deaths. Five health care workers have been infected and 1 has died. Cases have been reported from the following districts: Kailahun, Kenema, Bo, Port Loko, and Freetown.

There is no treatment or vaccine for Ebola haemorrhagic fever. For tourists, visitors or residents in affected areas, the risk of infection is considered very low if elementary precautions are followed. Any traveller in the affected area should avoid any direct contact with anyone suspected to have this infection since it is highly contagious and lethal. Transmission often occurs during burial rituals (such as washing the body), during close physical contact with infected persons and their body fluids, during sexual contact or during contact with blood and body fluids of infected persons in hospital settings.