South Africa Bans Travellers Over Ebola

Following the outbreak of Ebola virus in West Africa, South Africa has issued a ban on non-citizens travelling from three West African countries worst affected by Ebola.

According to a statement released moments ago by the health ministry in South Africa, the country declared “a total travel ban for all non-citizens travelling from these high risk countries,” referring to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

 
It was gathered from the statement that South Africans returning home from these areas will undergo strict screening.

South African authorities also barred non-essential travel to the three West African countries.

South Africa has so far been Ebola-free despite two scares in as many weeks: a South African man returning from Liberia and a Guinean woman. However, both tested negative.

Johannesburg is a major hub for air travel between southern Africa and the rest of the continent.

Meanwhile, travellers from Nigeria, where there is a much smaller outbreak, will be allowed entry, the stated added.

It would be recalled that Nigeria has suffered four casualties from the Ebola virus since a Liberian businessman, Patrick Sawyer imported the dreaded disease to Lagos on 20 July, 2014.

More than ten cases of the disease were confirmed recently, according to statistics released few days ago by the Ministry of Health in Nigeria.

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, the Ebola virus has killed 1,350 people in west Africa since February, 2014 as no vaccine has been found to cure the disease.

 
However, the US doctor who fell ill with the Ebola virus while working in Liberia has recovered and is being released from an Atlanta hospital, an aid group said on Thursday, 21 August, 2014.

Kent Brantly, 33, is scheduled to speak to the media along with doctors at Emory University Hospital today, the hospital said in a statement.

The president of the Christian missionary group for which Mr Brantly worked in Liberia, Samaritan's Purse, hailed the doctor's “courageous spirit” as he battled the virus that has killed 1,350 people in west Africa since March.

The hospital said doctors would also address the media about the release of Nancy Writebol, 60, another US missionary who is being treated there for Ebola.

Her son has said her health is improving, but it was unclear if she was ready to leave the hospital today.