A very small number of individuals (principally health care workers and journalists) will be returning to their home countries after having been in known contact with Ebola patients in Zaire. Unless these passengers are obviously ill, no travel restrictions are required, but such persons are advised to inform health/quarantine officials at their destination of their exposure history and where they may be contacted during the incubation period of the disease. If they fall ill during this period, they should seek immediate care and notify the health/quarantine authorities of this fact.
Other passengers leaving Zaire are advised to notify a doctor immediately if an illness develops during a period of three weeks from the departure date. In particular, any fever should be reported at once and the physician informed that the patient has travelled from Zaire. The incubation period for Ebola haemorrhagic fever is up to 21 days. Persons with Ebola become infectious for others only when they are extremely ill and are already haemorrhaging (bleeding). It is highly unlikely that such persons would try to travel on an international flight, and unlikely that they would be permitted to board if they did try. If on board, they would represent a hazard to members of the crew and any passengers who had direct contact with the patient's blood. Such passengers should be placed as far as is practical from other passengers and crew. Aircrews, as a routine, should advise ground staff at their destination if they have severely ill passengers on board. Health and/or quarantine authorities should arrange for the isolation of these passengers for initial clinical screening for Ebola. Passengers and crew who had close prolonged contact with the patient (e.g. passengers sitting in an adjoining seat but not across the aisle or in front or behind unless specific contact occurred, or crew providing care) should be advised of the hazard and, on arrival, be placed under surveillance (e.g. active contact maintained by telephone or visit). Others in the aircraft should be advised of the hazard and told to contact a physician if they become ill.