Due to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, British Airways has canceled flights to Sierra Leone and Liberia, and Emirates has suspended service to Guinea. Delta is refunding passengers with flights in the region.
According to the most recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cases of the deadly Ebola virus have been confirmed in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
The World Health Organization reported that as of Aug. 1, there was a total of 1,603 suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola in West Africa, and 887 deaths.
Last week, the CDC raised its travel health alert to Level 3, the highest level, and warned against nonessential travel to Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
Delta on its website said that passengers departing from Roberts Airport in Monrovia, Liberia, may encounter mandatory health screenings by government officials prior to entering to the airport in response to the Ebola outbreak.
The airline recommends arriving at the airport at least two hours prior to scheduled departure time. Additionally, Delta advised customers that they may encounter similar measures upon arrival at Lagos, Nigeria.
Delta noted that if passengers’ flights from these destinations are canceled or significantly delayed, they are entitled to a refund. Passengers can also make a one-time change to their ticket without a fee if they have booked travel to, from or through Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
British Airways, which operates a direct flight four times a week from London to Sierra Leone and onto Liberia, said on Tuesday it was suspending flights “due to the deteriorating public health situation in both countries.”
In an online Q&A about Ebola, the CDC said it is assisting with screening and education efforts on the ground in West Africa to prevent sick travelers from getting on planes.
The CDC said that airports in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are screening all outbound passengers for Ebola symptoms, which include fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, followed by impaired kidney and liver functions, and at advanced stages, internal and external bleeding.
If an ill passenger enters the U.S., the CDC said it will investigate the case and has the ability to isolate the passenger — there are 20 CDC quarantine stations throughout the U.S., including at most of the country’s major international airports.
The agency has issued a health alert reminding U.S. healthcare workers how to test for and prevent the spread of Ebola, and the steps to take to isolate suspected patients and how protect themselves from infection.
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Follow Michelle Baran on Twitter @mbtravelweekly.