There is no formal ban on travelling to countries affected by the Ebola virus. The chance of catching the virus is small. Nevertheless, many countries recommend that their nationals only travel there if absolutely necessary. This is because of the increased risk of being infected with the virus in the hospitals of these countries. If someone falls ill for another reason that requires hospitalisation, the risk of being infected with this virus while in hospital in one of these countries is much increased.
People who visit these regions must take certain precautions:
- respect the advice of the local authorities and basic hygiene measures: in particular, wash hands frequently with soap or an alcohol-based solution;
- avoid all close contact with people with a high fever or other symptoms of the Ebola disease;
- avoid all unprotected sexual contact with locals;
- avoid all contact with deceased people and their bodily secretions;
- avoid all contact with animals (monkeys, bats, etc.), either living or dead;
- do not consume or handle bush meat;
- animal products (blood, meat, milk etc.) should be cooked with care before being consumed;
in the event of contact - in one of these countries - with bodily fluids from a human or animal, either living or dead, or in the event of unprotected sexual contact, please call the Health Inspection Department of the Ministry of Health (telephone number 2478-5650) immediately on your return so that your health can be monitored for 21 days.
Travellers in good health returning from an endemic zone...
...should monitor their health for 3 weeks after their return, in particular by taking their temperature twice a day for three weeks.
Isolation is not necessary if a person has no clinical symptoms, even if they may have had contact with an animal or human.
As soon as possible symptoms appear, such as a high temperature or other precursory signs, do not go to a doctor, medical centre or hospital emergency department, but instead call 112. This service will organise for you to be transferred to the National Infectious Disease Service of the Luxembourg Hospital Centre for a precise diagnosis and, in the case of the Ebola virus disease, care for you and ensure that the virus is not transmitted to others.
Those who you could have passed the virus on to (reminder, this only applies once symptoms of the disease appear) will be contacted by the Public Health Directorate and their health will be monitored.
If symptoms of the disease appear while flying...
...the ill person must inform the aircraft staff immediately.
The person will then be isolated if possible: the row of seats the patient is occupying should be cleared, as should those immediately in front and behind.
The person should be evacuated after landing, taking all the necessary precautions. Ground staff should be alerted and the luggage of the ill person removed. As a precaution, the person handling the luggage should wear gloves.
If you have any questions, please call the Health Inspection Department (telephone number 2478-5650).