KQ to maintain west Africa flights despite Ebola outbreak

Kenya Airways will continue flying to and from Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria and other west Africa destinations despite the outbreak of a deadly Ebola epidemic in the region.

The national carrier cited assessments by World Health Organisation (WHO) and The International Air Transport Association (IATA) that downplayed the possible spread of Ebola virus through air travel.

The announcement came as the World Health Organisation announced it expected the epidemic to continue for "months" and get worse.

"Arising from the unfortunate Ebola outbreak in parts of West Africa, we wish to provide the following detailed update while confirming that, Kenya Airways is still flying to and from several destinations in that region," a statement from outgoing chief executive Titus Naikuni said.

"According to information availed to us from IATA and collaborated by local experts, the WHO, current risk assessment for the spread of Ebola by air travel and transport is minimal and hence not recommending any travel restrictions or the closure of borders at points of entry," the statement added.

"Withdrawing our flights to these key destinations given the safeguards already placed by the respective governments’ and global health authorities would amount to a corporate placement of unnecessary travel advisory."

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Since breaking out earlier this year, the epidemic has claimed 932 lives and infected more than 1,700 people across west Africa, according to the World Health Organisation.

Liberia and Sierra Leone have already declared states of emergency.

Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf declared a state of emergency of at least 90 days on Wednesday, saying extraordinary measures were needed “for the very survival of our state”.

In Sierra Leone, which has the most confirmed infections, 800 troops including 50 military nurses were sent to guard hospitals and clinics treating Ebola patients, an army spokesman said.

British Airways announced Tuesday that it has cancelled flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone until the end of August. The airline normally has four flights a week from London Heathrow to Freetown in Sierra Leone, with a connection to Monrovia in Liberia.

Precautionary measures

Fears are growing that the disease could also take hold in Nigeria after the death of a nurse in Lagos, a megacity of more than 20 million.

According to Mr Naikuni, Kenya Airways will continue to maintain precautionary measures including educating all staff on Ebola, how it is transmitted and how to keep safe.

Ground staff and crew in Monrovia, Free Town, Accra, Lagos and Abuja are are also on high alert to identify passengers who look unwell on check in or on board and facilitate immediate review by a medical personnel for assistance.

Crew members have also been supplied and trained on the use of Universal Precaution Kits (UPKs) to ensure that they do not come into contact with body fluids while carrying out their duties.

Ebola causes severe fever and, in the worst cases, unstoppable bleeding. It is transmitted through close contact with bodily fluids, and people who live with or care for patients are most at risk.

There is no proven treatment or cure for Ebola and the use of the experimental drug has sparked controversy as Ebola experts call for it to be made available to African victims.

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World Health Organization officials said on Friday the world's worst Ebola outbreak is likely to get worse in the coming months.

"The likelihood is that things will get worse before they get better," Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's head of health security, told reporters. "We are fully prepared for the outbreak to be at a high level for a number of months."