Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa

Update by the West of England P&I Club

In April 2014, the West of England P&I Club advised operators about theEbola Virus outbreak in a number of West African countries. It should be noted that the outbreak is still ongoing and is now the deadliest outbreak of the disease to date. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that as of 30 June 2014 there have been 759 cases of Ebola resulting in 467 deaths.

Cases continue to be reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Although such outbreaks are mainly inland, cases have arisen in the ports of Conakry and Monrovia. However, it would appear that Freetown is unaffected at the present time.

WHO does not consider that travel to Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone needs to be restricted. Operators may nevertheless wish to advise their crews to remain on board when calling at ports in these countries to minimise the risk of them encountering someone who may be carrying the virus, and to postpone any crew changes until clear of the area.

Due to the ever changing nature of the Ebola outbreak, operators with vessels proceeding to the area are advised to check the latest WHO advice in theDisease Outbreak News section of the WHO website, and review theWHO Ebola virus – fact sheet.

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Source: The West of England P&I Club

Key facts

Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%.
EVD outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.
The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
Fruit bats of thePteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus.
Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. No licensed specific treatment or vaccine is available for use in people or animals.