The FCDO updated its Nigeria travel advice on 21 October. The new Ebola entry on its Health page says the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare confirmed on 20 October the country's first imported case of Ebola, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and is carrying out public health measures including contact tracing. This piece sets out what the FCDO and the World Health Organization (WHO) say, and what it means for a team planning a deployment.
What the FCDO says
Nigeria: travellers entering Nigeria from countries with Ebola virus disease transmission must complete an online Nigeria Health Declaration Form before travel, and may also face thermal screening and a travel history check on arrival. The Health page asks travellers to check that the destination can provide the healthcare they may need, that they hold travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation, and that they have filled in the form.
Kenya: the FCDO Health page says the Kenyan Ministry of Health confirmed its first imported case on 6 October. The government is using contact tracing, surveillance, border screening and quarantine for people considered at risk. The Entry requirements page says travellers arriving in Kenya, particularly from Uganda, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), may be subject to enhanced health screening.
DRC: the Health page says: "The outbreak is active, evolving and geographically widespread." It says some countries apply additional screening or entry restrictions to travellers who have been in DRC, and tells travellers to check the rules for every destination and transit country. The Entry requirements page adds that travellers in DRC may meet passenger locator forms and temperature checks at airports on arrival and departure, and that Rwanda and Uganda have announced restrictions affecting travellers to DRC.
The FCDO risk advice for people in DRC is to avoid contact with anyone who is unwell, avoid blood, body fluids and human remains, avoid handling bushmeat or contact with bats and other wild animals, and wash hands regularly. It lists fever, severe headache, muscle pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and unexplained bleeding as symptoms that need immediate medical advice and says: "Symptoms can develop up to 21 days after exposure."
What the WHO says
The FCDO DRC page says the WHO declared the Ebola (Bundibugyo virus disease) outbreak in DRC a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 17 May. The WHO determination of that date covers DRC and Uganda. Its initial advice to the States Parties where the event is occurring (DRC and Uganda) is that contacts should be monitored daily, with restricted national travel and no international travel until 21 days after exposure, and that there should be no international travel of cases or contacts unless it is an appropriate medical evacuation. The WHO said this advice would be refined after its Emergency Committee advised and Temporary Recommendations were issued, so check the WHO's current position.
What is not in the record
The FCDO Nigeria entry gives no case numbers, no locations beyond the FCT, no virus species, and does not say whether the case is connected to the outbreak in DRC or to any other. The Nigeria change history shows no change to the FCDO's travel advice levels for this update: the note of 21 October is "New information about Ebola" on the Health page. Nothing here indicates how far Ebola has spread in Nigeria.
Planning points
These are Ops Con planning points, not FCDO or WHO guidance.
Check every leg, in both directions. The FCDO says some countries add screening for people who have been in affected countries, and Nigeria requires a form before travel. Build the entry and transit rules for each country on the itinerary into the task plan, and re-check them the day before travel.
Ask the insurer the specific question. The FCDO tells travellers to confirm cover for local treatment and unexpected medical evacuation. Ask in writing whether an Ebola outbreak affects either, and who decides when a medical evacuation goes ahead.
Brief the principal and the team on the symptoms and the 21 day window before arrival, and agree who makes the call if someone becomes unwell. Keep a simple log of where each team member has been and who they have been in close contact with, so a public health authority can be given an accurate history.
Re-read the Health page for each country on the day. This is a fast-moving picture and the Nigeria entry was added the day before this piece was written.
