Gambia bans flights from Ebola-hit zones
A man disinfects his shoes as he leaves an isolation centre for people infected with Ebola at Donka Hospital in Conakry on April 14, 2014. The death toll in west Africa's three-nation Ebola outbreak has risen to 337. AFP PHOTO / CELLOU BINANI
What you need to know:
- A total of 168 cases “clinically compatible” with Ebola virus disease reported, including 108 deaths, since the start of the year, says WHO.
BANJUL,
The Gambia has banned flights from Ebola-hit west African countries from landing in its territory, airport officials told AFP on Tuesday.
Staff at Banjul International Airport said on condition of anonymity that President Yahya Jammeh had ordered airlines to cancel all flights from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in a bid to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
“This decision by the Gambian authorities has left prospective passengers travelling to Banjul ... stranded in these West African countries,” said an airport official.
“Brussels Airlines, which transits in Freetown from Europe, is only allowed to drop passengers there, but not pick anyone up.”
MOST DEADLY IN HISTORY
The outbreak in Guinea is one of the most deadly in history, with 168 cases “clinically compatible” with Ebola virus disease reported, including 108 deaths, since the start of the year, according to the World Health Organization.
The outbreak began in the country’s southern forests, but has spread to Conakry, a port city on the Atlantic coast and home to two million people.
Neighbouring Liberia has reported 20 probable or suspected cases, six lab-confirmed cases and 13 deaths.
Mali also has suspected cases but does not appear to have been targeted for any kind of restrictions by the Gambia.
