Monitoring Ebola risk in humanitarian aid workers
Emerging viral diseases, including Ebola, Marburg and Mpox Clade 1, are rare but severe infections. While endemic regions carry the main burden, early detection and isolation are vital in non-endemic countries to prevent spread. Humanitarian aid workers (HAWs) travelling to affected areas face increased exposure risk and require monitoring on return.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) operates a voluntary reporting system for HAWs deployed by Irish NGOs, Irish Aid, or the WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). This system enables public health teams to assess risk on return and provide follow-up where necessary, including 21-day monitoring after high-risk exposure.
HAWs travelling to the DRC or Uganda are urged to register their deployment details with HPSC. Information can be submitted via a form emailed to hpsc-data@hpsc.ie in advance of deployment to areas where emerging viral disease transmission is occurring. Updates, including return dates, can be provided using the same process.
Irish NGOs wishing to receive alerts and reminders about emerging viral diseases and the HAW register can contact GZV@hpsc.ie.
The list of affected countries is subject to change; travellers should consult country-specific advice on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also operates a registration system for Irish citizens travelling abroad. All citizens travelling to or residing in affected areas are strongly encouraged to register their details online.