Internationalsos Travel Briefing 10/08/2014. Entry restrictions: Cape Verde on 5 October prohibited the entry of all North Americans and non-resident foreigners who had visited the US in the past 30 days. Earlier, nationals of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Liberia on 19 September were banned from entering Cape Verde for the next three months. The authorities have also banned entry to all non-residents who have visited Ebola-affected countries, including Congo (DRC), in the past 30 days; on 1 September, Senegal was added to this list. Cameroon on 17 September reopened its borders to travellers from Senegal. An 18 August ban remains in place on travel from Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Mauritius on 12 September announced that it would restrict entry of nationals from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal and Congo (DRC) unless prior approval was obtained from the Passport and Immigration Office. Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe have stated that travellers coming from Ebola-affected countries (according to the World Health Organisation, WHO) would be monitored for 21 days and that travel to member countries for any gatherings would be discouraged. The SADC provided no details as to how member countries will carry out the associated screening and follow-up and it is likely that countries will have individual processes. There are also reports that some countries require health documentation for entry. Travellers are advised to contact the embassy or health ministry of their destination country to clarify their individual circumstances and prepare their trips accordingly. South Sudan has placed a ban on travellers coming from Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia or Congo (DRC), or those who have travelled to those countries in the preceding 21 days. According to the health ministry, entry of travellers from Nigeria depends on their travel history in that country and whether they have visited Ebola-affected areas. Namibia's foreign ministry on 11 September announced that foreigners travelling from countries affected by Ebola would be prohibited from entering the country. Gambia on 1 September suspended entry of persons who have visited Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone or Nigeria in the 21 days prior to travel. Those travelling indirectly from any of the aforementioned countries to Gambia via another country also come under this measure. Côte d'Ivoire announced on 23 August that it had closed its land borders with Guinea and Liberia. Gabon stated on 22 August that it is restricting the issuance of entry visas to travellers from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria on a case-by-case basis. Rwanda, according to the US Department of State on 22 August, has banned entry to travellers who have visited Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone in the 22 days prior to travel. Senegal on 21 August closed its land border with Guinea, while the country's sea and air borders will also be closed to vessels and aircraft from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Chad on 21 August closed its land border with Nigeria at Lake Chad. The country previously reportedly banned the entry of any travellers originating or transiting through Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria or Sierra Leone, with airlines serving the country reportedly rerouting flights. South Africa on 21 August restricted entry for all non-citizens travelling from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The government subsequently clarified that this was not a blanket ban and could be waived for 'absolutely essential travel'. Kenya on 19 August suspended entry of passengers travelling from and through Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, excluding health professionals supporting efforts to contain the outbreak and Kenyan citizens. Flights and other transport
Countries that have implemented Ebola-related travel restrictions:
Gambia has banned the entry of flights from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Gabon has banned the entry of flights and ships from countries affected by Ebola. Senegal has banned flights from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Cameroon has banned flights to and from Nigeria. Chad has suspended all flights from Nigeria. Côte d'Ivoire has banned all passenger flights from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Nigeria has suspended flights to the country operated by Gambian national carrier Gambia Bird. Details of airlines that have restricted flights to Ebola-affected countries:
Air France suspended flights to Sierra Leone from 28 August. The Togo-based carrier Asky Airlines has suspended flights to and from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Arik Air (Nigeria), Gambia Bird and Kenya Airways have suspended services to Liberia and Sierra Leone. British Airways has extended their suspension of flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone until 31 December. Emirates Airlines has suspended flights to Guinea. Korean Air suspended flights to and from Kenya from 20 August. Senegal Airlines has suspended flights to and from Conakry (Guinea) until further notice. Other airlines have modified their routes but are still operating regular scheduled services. These include:
Royal Air Maroc Brussels Airlines.
Over a dozen countries and airlines have imposed travel restrictions with West African Ebola stricken countries. I cannot for the life of me understand those who insist isolating those countries poses a greater danger to non-infected countries, than allowing US status quo unrestricted travel... Comments?
Bring Out Your Dead
Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.
The purpose of the Bring Out Your Dead ping list (formerly the Ebola ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.
So far the false positive rate is 100%.
At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the Bring Out Your Dead threads will miss the beginning entirely.
*sigh* Such is life, and death...