For more than one year, Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone have been experiencing the largest and most complex outbreaks of Ebola in history. Outbreaks are continuing in Guinea. Currently, there are no known cases of Ebola in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Image/CIA
Image/CIA

This Saturday will be the 42nd day post new Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case and Sierra Leone is expected to be declared Ebola-free.

This has prompted the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to downgrade the travel notice for travelers to Sierra Leone today. CDC is no longer recommending that US residents avoid nonessential travel to Sierra Leone. However, CDC recommends that US residents practice enhanced precautions when traveling to Sierra Leone.

Although the risk is extremely low, there is the possibility of reintroduction of Ebola into the country. Travelers should follow CDC’s advice for avoiding contact with blood and body fluids. The health system in Sierra Leone continues to monitor for new cases and to take precautions to prevent transmission in the country.

The CDC notes that travelers should also be aware that getting medical care in Sierra Leone may be difficult because the health infrastructure has been severely strained by the Ebola outbreak.

Since the beginning of the outbreak there have been a total of 28,539 reported confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of EVD in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone up to 18 October, with 11,298 reported deaths.

Image/CDC
Image/CDC