MOSCOW, August 11 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's Federal Agency for Tourism is strongly encouraging Russian tourists to take into account available information on the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD), which has killed almost 1,000 people worldwide, when planning their travels, the agency said in a statement Monday.
"When in West African countries, and upon returning from a trip with symptoms of the illness, travelers must seek medical assistance immediately," the agency said.
The worst Ebola outbreak in history started in Guinea, where it has killed four people, and spread to Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone, all three of which have declared a state of emergency.
The virus, which has a 90 percent fatality rate, had killed 961 people as of August 6, with a total of 1,779 reported cases, according to the World Health Organization.
Ebola symptoms resemble those of the flu, and include fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash and bleeding.
WHO declared an international state of emergency on Friday due to the spread of the virus.
There is no licensed treatment or vaccine for Ebola, while medical workers typically treat the virus using rehydration techniques and antibiotics. Some groups have called for new drugs to be rolled out in Africa after two US health workers infected with the virus responded positively to an experimental treatment known as Zmapp.
