WHAT IS EBOLA VIRUS
DISEASE?
■ Ebola virus disease is a severe and
fatal viral disease that affects humans
and wild animals (monkeys, gorillas and
chimpanzees).
■Following the incubation period of
2-21 days (8-10 days mostly) after
being exposed to the disease, some
symptoms such as high fever, headache,
joint and muscle pain, weakness,
diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and lack of appetite can be
observed.
■ In severe cases, symptoms such as skin
eruption, red eyes, cough, dyspnea, sore
throat, difficulty in swallowing, hiccup,
internal and external bleeding and liver
and renal failure are also observed.
■ There is no specific treatm ent or vaccine against this disease.
■ Mortality rate due to the disease is almost about 90%.
HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?
■ It is transmitted to people from infected
wild animals like chimpanzees, gorillas,
monkeys and bats.
■ It is transmitted through direct contact with blood or body fluids
(sweat, saliva, sperm) of an infected person or with objects
and syringes/needles contaminated with that person’s
blood or body fluids.
■ It is transmitted through contact with blood or body fluids of a
person died of Ebola virus disease.
■ It is transmitted through contact with living or dead wild
animals or their raw or undercooked meat.
WHAT ARE RISKS FOR TRAVELERS?
■ There is risk for people traveling to the places Ebola
virus outbreak is present.
■ Transmission risk of disease is higher in forestry areas,
local bazaars, and healthcare facilities.
■ Some occupational groups (healthcare professionals,
nature travelers etc) are under higher risk.
HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVESP
■As in other contagious diseases, washing
hands with soap and water frequently is
important for protection. If there is no water
and soap, hands should be cleaned with alcohol-based hand
disinfectants.
■ Contact with wild animals sold in local bazaars should be avoided.
Meat of wild animals should not be eaten and dead animals
should not be touched.
■ Patients with suspected infection with this disease should be
stayed away from and infected or suspected people should be
isolated carefully. Infected or dead people should be approached
with special protective equipment (mask, goggles, gloves,
medical overalls etc).
■ Contact with blood or body fluids of
infected people or animals should be
avoided.
■ Objects that may have contacted with blood or body fluids of an
infected person should not be touched. Such objects should be
burned or disinfected.
WHERE DOES EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE OCCUR ?
■ Ebola virus disease outbreak still goes on in Republics of Guinea,
Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
■ Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon,
South Sudan, Ivory Coast, Uganda,
Congo, South Africa and Republic of
Mali are also places that some cases
were reported in the past
SUGGESTIONS FOR TRAVELERS AFTER THEY RETURN
■ Monitor your health for 21 days after your return from your travel
to epidemic areas. If you or any family member suffer from fever,
shivering, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, skin eruption or
red eyes, immediately apply to a healtcare center.
■ If you fell sick during your travel, after you return to country,
immediately apply to a healthcare center even if your complaints
are not so serious.
■ Inform your doctor about your travel and potential disease
contacts definitely.
GENERAI
HEALTH RULES
IN TRAVELS
Appropriate preventive measures and special precautions
significantly reduce the risks of harmful health outcomes.
■ Do not forget that learning the specific circumstances in
your chosen destination and seeking advice on health
measures needed to be taken before your travel begins is
really important.
■Obtain enough prescriptions for your entire travel duration and
get advices from your doctor on how to prepare an appropriate
medical kit.
■ Boil the w ater that is not safe to drink definitely.
■Wash your hands frequently with w ater and soap
■ Do not eat foods unless you are sure about their freshness and
sources.
■ If you apply to a healthcare center for any reason, be sure
that the needles and instruments used for you are disposable
and sterile.
■Take necessary precautions against pests. It will be hepful
to use fly-repellent sprays and mosquito nets when sleeping.
Trauel Health
SUPPOrt Line Support Line”;
■ Medical advices about health risks in the countries chosen for
travel and required preventive measures are provided for
people before their travels.
■Consultancy services are provided about the health problems
of people travelling abroad and our citizens and cognates living
in those countries. We are with you 7/24.
Risks related to international
travels vary according to the
characteristics of traveler (age, gender,
health status etc) and travel itself
(route, purpose, duration etc).
"Ö21~444 7734
Travel Health Support line
Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health
General Directorate of Health for Dorders and Coastal Areas of Turkey
