Mexico City — Mexico’s Health Ministry issued a travel advisory Monday urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda due to an active Ebola outbreak. The warning aligns with a similar advisory from the United States, as the region reports around 390 suspected cases and at least 100 deaths.
“Because this is an event with risk of international spread, it is important to consider that travelers could be exposed not only to potentially sick people but also to other health risks present in the affected areas,” the ministry said in a statement.
Mexican health authorities acknowledged the possibility of imported cases from international travelers arriving from zones with active transmission but assessed the overall risk as low, noting there is no specific treatment or vaccine for Ebola.
“Individual risk depends on recent travel history, stay or exposure in areas with active transmission, as well as contact with sick people or contaminated materials,” the ministry explained.
For those who must travel to affected regions, the ministry recommended identifying medical services at the destination beforehand, following all instructions from national and international health authorities, and avoiding non-essential travel to countries and areas with active outbreaks.
During travel, authorities advised frequent handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, avoiding contact with sick people or those showing infectious symptoms, and not sharing objects contaminated with bodily fluids.
“If you present symptoms compatible with a febrile illness, seek immediate medical attention and maintain communication with the embassy or embassies at your destination. Inform health personnel about recent international travel history, particularly if you have visited regions with active outbreaks,” the ministry stressed.
The Ebola virus has an incubation period of two to 21 days. Transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people, and it is not airborne like influenza or COVID-19.
“If within 21 days after your return you present fever, intense weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and/or unexplained bleeding, do not self-medicate, maintain isolation and immediately contact local health authorities by phone and report your travel history,” the ministry recommended.
On Sunday, the World Health Organization declared an international health emergency over the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, citing an increase in cases, cross-border spread and significant uncertainties about the epidemic’s magnitude.
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