6 symptoms similar to influenza and 4 procedures for the travel season

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection stressed the importance of relying on reliable information and scientific facts about the Ebola virus in light of the circulation of news about the current outbreak in some African countries, stressing the importance of understanding how the virus is transmitted and its symptoms, and reviewing the assessments of official health authorities to enhance health awareness and avoid unjustified anxiety.

She explained that the Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids or contaminated materials, stressing that it is not transmitted through the air like Covid-19 or influenza. She also identified 6 initial symptoms of the disease that may be similar to the symptoms of influenza, including “fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and general weakness.”

She added, as part of an awareness campaign through her official platforms, that these symptoms may appear within a period ranging between two and 21 days after exposure to the virus, noting that people infected with the Ebola virus are not considered carriers of the infection before symptoms appear.

She pointed out that the World Health Organization has classified the outbreak of the Ebola virus linked to the “Bundibugyo” strain in Central Africa as a public health emergency of international concern, which is only the ninth time such a classification has been issued since the system was adopted in 2005.

She confirmed that the current outbreak is concentrated in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with imported cases recorded in Uganda, and that the virus causing this outbreak is the “Bundebugyo” strain of the Ebola virus, which is a rare strain that was first discovered in Uganda in 2007.

She continued: “Although international health authorities are dealing with the current outbreak very seriously, the World Health Organization still assesses the level of risk to public health globally as “low,” and the UAE continues to follow developments closely. It has strengthened surveillance and early detection procedures, raised the readiness of airports and border crossings, and strengthened the preparations of health facilities and laboratories, in addition to activating response and coordination procedures among the relevant national authorities.

In view of the current outbreak, she indicated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates advises against traveling to the “Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan” unless necessary, and it is also advised to review the latest guidelines before planning travel to the affected countries.

With the increase in travel traffic during the summer season, the Ministry urged travelers to take 4 measures, including “following official health instructions, maintaining personal hygiene, monitoring one’s health condition after travel, and reviewing the latest travel guidelines before departure,” stressing that awareness, preparedness, and taking the necessary precautions remain important factors in protecting public health in a world witnessing increased travel and communication.

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection called for obtaining accurate information and updates by relying on official health authorities and reliable sources only.