Ebola Federal Government recommends leaving

Federal Government calls for departure from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone for the Ebola epidemic

08/13/2014

Due to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, the associated risk of infection for travelers and possible restrictions on the conditions of exit in a further escalation of the situation, the Federal Government has called all Germans to leave Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. „The only exceptions are urgently needed medical and humanitarian personnel in the fight against the Ebola epidemic“, so the message of the Federal Government.

In view of the Ebola epidemic, the Federal Foreign Office does not only advise against travel to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, but has called all Germans to leave the country. In addition to the risk of infection, the Federal Government's press release explicitly refers to the possibility that restrictions may be imposed on exit conditions. A departure at a later time would therefore be associated with additional difficulties.

Increasing spread of the Ebola epidemic
At the end of July, the government of Liberia has already closed most of the country's border crossings and further restrictions on travel by national authorities in the region can not be ruled out, reports the Federal Foreign Office. More comprehensive checks of travelers are not only likely, but also necessary with increasing levels of the epidemic. So far „despite international efforts, an end to the spread is not foreseeable“ and „most recently the case numbers have risen significantly again“, reports the federal government. The World Health Organization has already reported more than 1,000 deaths. Since December 2013, the epidemic in West Africa has spread from Guinea, spilling over into neighboring Sierra Leone and Liberia. Meanwhile, the first infections and deaths in Nigeria have occurred through travelers. „A spread to other neighboring countries can not be ruled out“, so the assessment of the Foreign Office.

Imminent restrictions on exit conditions
If the border controls in the affected countries tightened, threatened by the Federal Government communication in medical abnormalities (especially increased body temperature), which are reminiscent of Ebola symptoms, problems in the exit to „Compulsory quarantine measures“. Also could the „medical evacuations of patients to care in Germany difficult, delayed or even impossible.“ The call for departure should therefore be taken into account by all German travelers who are not on the ground for medical or humanitarian reasons to combat the Ebola epidemic. (Fp)