The Gambian National airline has been suspended by Nigeria from flying into the country, alleging "unsatisfactory" measures by the airline to contain the spread of Ebola virus, officials said on Sunday.
The "NCAA (Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority) has reviewed the measures put in place by your airline as contained in your letter of 30th July, 2014 and have found these measures unsatisfactory," NCAA said in a letter to Gambia Bird Airlines.
'Invest in Health, Build a Safer Future': World Health Day
There is a need for greater co-operation between governments, corporate sector and citizens to ensure international preparedness and to provide a universal safety net to deal with global health issues
Advertisement
"Consequently, your flights into Nigeria have been temporarily suspended with immediate effect until such a time that you are able to put in place acceptable and satisfactory measures," said the letter, a copy of which was sent to AFP.
The contents of the airline's letter to the NCAA were not disclosed.
NCAA is the government agency that serves as watchdog for all airlines operating in the country.
![Ebola Virus Disease]( "Ebola Virus Disease")
Ebola is caused by a virus via direct contact with body fluids or infected blood. Scientists have identified five types of Ebola or Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus.
The Gambian national carrier flies to Lagos twice weekly. It also flies to other African countries in the region: Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Senegal.
NCAA said that part of its efforts to curb the spread of the virus was to to direct all airlines operating into Nigeria from Guinea, Freetown and Monrovia "to put in place adequate measures to ensure that passengers with this disease are not boarded and brought into the country."
"Such measures may include suspension of flights into these countries," NCAA added.
An American Liberian who arrived Lagos from Monrovia, capital of Liberia, via Lome (Togo), eventually died of Ebola virus in a Lagos hospital last July 25.
A Nigerian nurse who had contact with the Liberian also died last week while seven others have been confirmed to have the virus in Lagos.
Nigeria along with Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are the hardest hit countries by the epidemic, which the WHO has called the worst in four decades. Nearly 1,000 people have died of the virus in these four countries, WHO said.
Nigeria's president on Friday declared a national emergency over the deadly Ebola virus.
Source: AFP
NCAA is the government agency that serves as watchdog for all airlines operating in the country.
Ebola Virus Disease
Ebola is caused by a virus via direct contact with body fluids or infected blood. Scientists have identified five types of Ebola or Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus.
Advertisement
The Gambian national carrier flies to Lagos twice weekly. It also flies to other African countries in the region: Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Senegal.
NCAA said that part of its efforts to curb the spread of the virus was to to direct all airlines operating into Nigeria from Guinea, Freetown and Monrovia "to put in place adequate measures to ensure that passengers with this disease are not boarded and brought into the country."
"Such measures may include suspension of flights into these countries," NCAA added.
An American Liberian who arrived Lagos from Monrovia, capital of Liberia, via Lome (Togo), eventually died of Ebola virus in a Lagos hospital last July 25.
A Nigerian nurse who had contact with the Liberian also died last week while seven others have been confirmed to have the virus in Lagos.
Nigeria along with Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are the hardest hit countries by the epidemic, which the WHO has called the worst in four decades. Nearly 1,000 people have died of the virus in these four countries, WHO said.
Nigeria's president on Friday declared a national emergency over the deadly Ebola virus.
Source: AFP
Negative Test Results for Ebola in Feared Cases in Canada
Negative test results for Ebola was confirmed in a Canadian man showing symptoms of Ebola after returning home after a recent visit to Nigeria, officials said Sunday.
Advertisement
 India on Alert for Deadly Ebola VirusThe Indian government opened an emergency helpline on Saturday and put the country's airports on alert as part of measures to tackle any outbreak of the deadly Ebola epidemic. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest Tropical Disease News
The viral infection of monkeypox has now spread to five provinces in Indonesia, said authorities.
Mpox, previously recognized as Monkeypox, has existed in human circulation since 2016, preceding the 2022 worldwide health emergency it initiated.
Gut bacteria composition is linked to a higher risk of severe malaria and may aid in developing new approaches to prevent severe malaria and its mortality.
Indonesia's Health Ministry is on high alert due to 14 confirmed monkeypox cases since its first detection on October 13.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) in Cambodia has reported the first Zika virus case in the country since 2016.