Guinea: Ebola virus outbreak reported in Goueke, N'Zerekore Prefecture as of Feb. 14.

Event

Health officials confirmed seven cases of Ebola virus Feb. 14 in Goueke community, N'Zerekore Prefecture, Guinea. The source of the outbreak was a nurse working in a local health facility that died Jan. 28. Six individuals that attended the funeral reported Ebola-like symptoms, of which two have died, and three remain hospitalized. Further contact tracing and infection preventative measures are underway in several health facilities and key locations within the community. Local public health agencies and the WHO are working with Liberia and Sierra Leone to strengthen Ebola preventative measures and community surveillance in districts along the border. Sporadic cases will likely follow in the coming weeks as elevated disease surveillance continues. This represents the most complete data available as of Feb. 15.

Context

During the West Africa Ebola outbreak (2014-2016) where 28,000 cases of the Ebola virus were confirmed, Guinea was one of the three most affected countries reporting 3,814 cases and 544 related deaths.

Ebola virus is known to persist in bodily fluids of individuals who have recovered from the disease, including semen, pregnancy-related fluids, and breastmilk. The virus may also lie dormant in the fluids of the eye and in the central nervous system. Sexual transmission is likely the source of this new case. The DRC has robust measures in place to identify and manage suspected Ebola virus cases, including health workers trained to perform safe burials and trace people who had contact with cases. Two Ebola virus outbreaks concluded during 2020: one in Equateur Province, where authorities reported around 130 cases, and an outbreak of more than 3,400 suspected cases in North Kivu Province that began in 2018.

Ebola is transmitted through close personal contact and exposure to excretions and bodily fluids from infected patients - particularly blood, blood products, and tissue. The consumption of primate and bat meat (bushmeat) may also play a role in the virus' transmission. The threat of Ebola infection for persons not involved in healthcare or funeral settings is low.

Advice

Observe strict health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water or with hand sanitizer. Where possible, limit exposure to crowds, including markets and other areas where large numbers of people congregate. Stay away from any locations where bushmeat is collected, butchered, or sold. Avoid contact with animals and items that may have come in contact with an infected person's blood or bodily fluids.