Faced with a real Ebola threat, Nigeria and Liberia step up their game

by Kolapo Olapoju 

 

ebola-virus-guinea_0Nigeria and Liberia have taken precautionary steps to prevent the spread of Ebola to inhabitants of the countries.

Arik Air has indefinitely suspended operations into Monrovia (Liberia) and Freetown (Sierra Leone) effective today, July 28, 2014; as a result of the first Ebola virus death officially confirmed in Lagos, involving Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian national, who flew on a Non-Nigerian regional based airline from Monrovia via Togo into the city last week.

Spokesperson of the Airline, Banji Ola, who confirmed the suspension said; “Arik Air is taking this important step as a concerned corporate citizen bearing the interest of Nigerians at heart. We acknowledge the steps that the Federal Government of Nigeria is currently undertaking to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus; however, we feel especially compelled to take the business decision to immediately suspend flight services into the two Ebola affected countries due to our interest in the wellbeing of Nigerians”.

He said at the early stages of the contagion’s development across West Africa, the Gambian Government took the proactive decision to stop airlines (including Arik Air) from bringing inbound passengers from Monrovia, Conakry (Guinea) and Freetown into Banjul.

Also, the Liberian government has closed most of the West African nation’s border crossings and introduced stringent health measures to curb the spread of the deadly Ebola virus that has killed at least 660 people across the region.

The new measures announced by the government on Sunday came as Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone struggle to contain the worst outbreak yet of the virus.

Speaking at a task force meeting, Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said the government was doing everything to fight the virus, including inspecting and testing all outgoing and incoming airline passengers.

“All borders of Liberia will be closed with the exception of major entry points. At these entry points, preventive and testing centres will be established, and stringent preventive measures to be announced will be scrupulously adhered to,” she said.

Under the new measures, public gatherings such as marches, demonstrations and promotional advertisements also will be restricted.

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