FURTHER UPDATE ON HOW COUNTRIES ARE HANDLING TRAVEL RELATED MATTERS IN RELATION TO THE EBOLA CRISIS. ---------------------------------- Travel Bans Issued by African Countries Against Ebola Affected Countries: Botswana: Banned travellers from entering their country from the West African countries affected by Ebola (Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone). Botswana is screening all arrivals from West Africa and the country has implemented travel restrictions for visitors from the four affected countries Cameroon: Banned airlines whose flights originate in, or transit through countries that are known to be affected by the recent outbreak of the Ebola epidemic. Airlines transporting passengers originating in or transiting through countries with the outbreak of Ebola will be forced to transport passengers back to their stations of origin as Cameroonian immigration authorities will not grant entry to such passengers even if they are holding a valid entry visa. Cameroon has also banned all flights from Nigeria. Cape Verde: Civil Aviation Authority has forbidden non-foreigners, non-resident citizens, that have been in Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone over the past 30 (thirty) days from entering the country. China: Flights from African and Middle East countries have to be quarantined on board on arrival in Beijing. All passengers have to be seated well in their own seat until quarantine officer leaves the cabin. Crew members are to make an announcement before opening the cabin door. Ethiopia: Ethiopia has not banned travel to and from Ebola-affected countries. Doctors and nurses are on standby at the airport to treat any possible cases in isolation. Gabon: Gabon has issued a travel ban on all nationals of Ebola affected countries. The country has issued a travel advisory warning citizens against travel to Ebola affected areas. No passenger leaving Gabon must be carried to any Ebola-affected country. Gambia: Gambia has closed its borders with Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. The government also announced that any international traveller who has been in one of the four affected countries within 21 days of arrival in Gambia will not be allowed entry into the country. Ghana: Banned flights from entering their country from Ebola affected countries - Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Citizens are urged to citizens to only travel to the affected countries if it is absolutely necessary to do so. Guinea: All passengers departing from the capital city’s airport must fill out a health form and have their temperature taken. Anyone with a temperature higher than 38 degrees will be tested for the disease. Guinea Bissau: Guinea Bissau closed its borders with Guinea last week until further notice. Ivory Coast: Ivory Coast has lifted its ban on flights to countries affected by the Ebola outbreak. The country had previously banned travel to and from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Kenya: Has banned all passengers travelling from, or through, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Kenyan Minister of Health, James Macharia, said the country would temporarily suspend the entry into Kenya of passengers travelling from and through Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, with effect from 19 August. Liberia: All outgoing and incoming passengers are tested. Lesotho: Has put in place a travel ban for people travelling from Ebola-affected countries - Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Mauritania: Banned travellers to and from Liberia and Sierra Leone. Mauritanian authorities recently decided to deny entry to citizens from African countries hit by Ebola to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. Mauritius: Any foreign nationals, who have visited one or more of the countries affected by Ebola during the past two months from the date of their travel to Mauritius, will temporarily not be allowed to enter the country. Ebola-affected countries include: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo; as indicated by the High Commission. The government of Mauritius has also introduced a temporary travel ban on entry for all nationals from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo due to the recent cases of Ebola in these countries. Crew members having operated to EVD infected countries are also being targeted by Mauritian authorities for sanitary control and surveillance while in Mauritius. Mozambique: Mozambique has drawn up a questionnaire that will be asked of all passengers who have come from or passed through, the West African countries where Ebola has been reported (Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone). Namibia: Banned all travellers from Guinea, Liberia,and Sierra Leone as part of precautionary measures to prevent the virus from reaching Namibia. Namibian citizens that have travelled to these countries will be entitled to come back into the country, but will be subjected to strict screening at the port of entry to ensure that they are not infected with Ebola. Nigeria: Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has started temperature screening at all major international airports for all passengers arriving from places at risk of Ebola. A compulsory blood test follows if the passenger’s temperature gives cause for concern. Reunion: Reunion has issued a travel advisory, warning its citizens to avoid all but essential travel to all Ebola-affected countries. Philippines: The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines is taking pro-active measures, which include the health screening of all travellers to the Philippines, and require all passengers from Ebola-affected countries to possess a medical clearance certificate due to the alarming outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Rwanda: Restrictions on travel from Ebola hit West African countries; Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Rwandan Ministry of Health strongly recommends that all passengers coming from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone or anyone who has travelled to those countries within the last 22 days be stopped from boarding flights to Rwanda or entering Rwanda by any means of transport. An exception is only provided for passengers with special authorisation signed by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Rwanda. Senegal: Senegal has closed its border with Guinea and banned travel to and from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone as a preventative measure. Seychelles: Seychelles has introduced visa requirements for citizens from countries in the West African region. This includes Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Nigeria, Cameroun, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Mauritania and Senegal. Seychelles has furthermore implemented travel restrictions to Ebola affected countries. All Seychellois nationals will not be allowed to travel to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Nigeria or the DRC without the express permission of the Public Health Commissioner until the epidemic is officially deemed to be over by the World Health Organization (WHO). Travellers from these countries will also not be allowed to enter the Seychelles until the epidemic is deemed over. Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced that all passengers going through the international airport shall undergo Ebola virus checks as an integral component of the normal airport screening process. Passengers will be required to wash hands with chlorinated water, go through a temperature scan and complete a public health passenger form. Tanzania: All major airports in Tanzania have been equipped with Ebola screening devices for testing passengers arriving from West Africa for the virus. Uganda: Uganda has intensified screening of travellers coming into the country at Entebbe Airport and other border posts. The ministry of health also issued a warning to Ugandans intending to travel to West Africa to do so only when it is a necessity. Zambia: Banned entry to all travellers coming from West African nations where the Ebola virus has broken out and Zambians arriving from the affected countries will be thoroughly screened and quarantined. Anyone suspected of having contracted the Ebola virus will be quarantined. Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe is closely monitoring all travellers from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Port Health officials are interviewing people coming from Ebola zones and examining them for possible symptoms.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 06:13:51 +0000
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