Fall 2014: CDC notice regarding travel to countries affected by Ebola outbreak

CDC issues travel alerts for West Africa The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted Warning - Level 3 Travel Notices recommending that people avoid nonessential travel to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone at this time, advising that education-related travel to these countries be postponed until further notice.

CDC has posted an Alert - Level 2 Travel Notice for Nigeria with recommendations for enhanced precautions to help travelers protect themselves and help prevent the spread of Ebola. These recommendations may change as the situation evolves. In the event that the situation worsens in Nigeria, CDC may recommend against non-essential travel to Nigeria. Colleges and universities should consider this possibility when deciding whether to proceed with education-related travel plans in Nigeria.

Members of the university community are strongly encouraged to heed the CDC and U.S. State Department's cautions regarding travel in this region. Travelers returning from this region are being advised by the CDC as follows:

"Persons who are returning from an affected area but who have not had direct contact with the body fluids of symptomatic infected persons or animals, or objects that have been contaminated with body fluids, should monitor their health for 10 days. Those with a potential exposure should monitor their health for 21 days post-exposure. Regardless, any traveler who becomes ill, even if only a fever, should consult a health-care provider immediately."

For additional information, visit the CDC website.

World Health Organization (WHO) declares Public Health Emergency of International Concern The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The current outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013 and currently involves transmission in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.  While the likelihood of the arrival of someone into Alaska with hemorrhagic fever due to Ebola virus disease is very low, and the potential for transmission in the United States is even lower, recent developments have raised international concerns.

U.S. State Department provides travel alerts The U.S. State Department maintains websites with updated information for travelers. The State Department is providing information about Ebola for travelers, in addition to their "country specific" service that provides information about situations within specific countries, including travel alerts, travel warnings and advice.

Ebola fact sheet: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/Ebola.html

Country specific link: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html

Travelers should monitor developments at the time of their trips.

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