Ebola’s Impact on Travel to West Africa

I am being asked a lot about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and how it might impact my upcoming sabbatical to Ghana.

What is Ebola? [Information taken from the World Health Organization (WHO) website]

Ebola is a severe and often fatal, acute viral illness characterized by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, internal and external bleeding. The illness affects humans and nonhuman primates. While initial cases of the disease are contracted by handling infected animals or carcasses, secondary cases occur by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an ill person, either through unsafe case management or unsafe burial practices. During this outbreak, most of the disease has spread through human-to-human transmission. Unlike infections such as influenza or tuberculosis, Ebola is not airborne and can only be transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of a person who is sick with the disease.

For more information: CLICK HERE

Is the outbreak near Ghana?

To date there have been no reported cases of Ebola in Ghana or in any of its boarding countries. The disease started and remains concentrated in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Ghana’s capital of Accra is approximately 980km from the boarder of Liberia, roughly the same distance as Calgary to Vancouver. In the beginning of August a case was confirmed in Nigeria and to date the number has been contained to 21 cases and 7 deaths.

Are you concerned?

I’m concerned but also optimistic that the outbreak can be contained and the spread stopped. I am very aware of the situation for sure and monitor it daily. I use the World Health Organization (WHO) updates as my consistent and reliable source of information in an effort to not get caught up in the media frenzy. At this point no one can know how this will play out so I certainly won’t pretend to be any sort of expert or give any kind of prediction. Only time will tell and we can only hope for a positive outcome as quickly as possible!

For regular WHO updates see: CLICK HERE

Will you still go?

Cancelling is not something I need to be deciding at this point as my first trip is still a month and a half away and there is no way of knowing what the situation will be like at that time. I will continue to monitor things every day but at this stage, based on my research and the fact that there are no reported cases in Ghana or any travel advisories, I feel the risk is extremely low and therefore do not feel the need to change any of my plans. My VISA is already in order and I leave mid-October for a 2 week stay before starting my sabbatical in the New Year. My options are open should I need to make changes however there is no pressure for me to make any decisions until much closer to the actual date.

The WHO’s response to:

Is it safe to travel to West Africa on business or to visit family and friends?

The risk of a tourist or businessman/woman becoming infected with Ebola virus during a visit to the affected areas and developing disease after returning is extremely low, even if the visit included travel to the local areas from which primary cases have been reported. Transmission requires direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected living or dead persons or animal, all of which are unlikely exposures for the average traveller. In any event, tourists are advised to avoid all such contacts.

In the meantime, my heart goes out to everyone directly impacted by this horrible disease; the suffering for both victims and their families is unimaginable to me.

I feel such gratitude to those working tirelessly to figure out how to contain this outbreak.

The real heroes are the medical staff, caretakers and everyone working on the front lines. Risking your own life in an effort to save another or providing comfort, company and dignity in someone’s final days is the ultimate act in what it means to be human. We need each other and its situations like these where we realize just how vulnerable we truly are.

In an age where we seem to glorify acts and achievement that far too often are unimportant, or just plain ridiculous, I want to acknowledge the thousands of unsung heroes who will never be publicly recognized for the incredible work they are doing. These are the people who inspire me!

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