Ebola virus disease update - Senegal

Supply-chain Risk Briefing: Ebola Outbreak Case in Senegal

1. Summary

On August 29, 2014, an Ebola virus infection case was confirmed in Senegal, with the Senegalese Ministry of Health and Social Action providing detailed information to WHO. While reported as a single case representing a low-grade outbreak situation, monitoring is required as part of the broader Ebola spread pattern within the West Africa region.

2. Supply-chain impact

• West Africa regional trade contraction — Potential for strengthened border controls and logistics disruptions due to Ebola fears
• Dakar port operational constraints — Concerns over cargo processing delays and vessel call disruptions at Dakar port, Senegal's major gateway
• Agricultural export disruption — Potential constraints on overseas exports of Senegal's major export products including peanuts and phosphates
• Air cargo transport disruption — Delays in emergency supplies and high-value cargo transportation due to international flight suspensions
• Regional overland transport network paralysis — Chain effects on landlocked countries' supply chains due to suspension of overland trade with neighboring countries

3. Watch points

• Additional infection case occurrences — Tracking the level of containment measure intensification based on community transmission scale
• International trade sanctions and quarantine measures — Monitoring WHO and major countries' restrictions on cargo and personnel movement from Senegal
• Regional border closure status — Determining the duration of trade route disruptions with neighboring countries including Guinea and Mali