Arik Air Suspends Flight Operations To Liberia, Sierra Leone Over Ebola Virus

Arik Air has announced suspension of its flight operations to
Liberia and Sierra Leone following the death of a Liberian,
Patrick Sawyer, who reportedly died of Ebola disease last week
at First Consultants Medical Centre Ltd, Obalende, Lagos State.
The airline operator also advised Federal Government to
immediately suspend all inbound flights into Nigeria from any of
the Ebola affected countries.
Ola Adebanji, Arik Air General Manager, Public Relations, who
confirmed the suspension of flights to Vanguard reporter said:
“As a result of the first Ebola virus death officially confirmed in
Lagos, and involving a Liberian national who flew on a foreign
(non-Nigerian) based airline from Monrovia via Lome (Togo)
into the city last week, Arik Air will be suspending operations
into Monrovia (Liberia) and Freetown (Sierra Leone) effective
July 28, 2014.”
“The suspension will be in force until further notice. This
decision is a pre-cautionary measure aimed at safeguarding the
precious lives of Nigerians. Arik Air is taking this important
measure as a concerned corporate citizen bearing interest of
Nigerians at heart.”
The airline while acknowledging the preventive measures taken
by the Federal Government to curtail the spread of the virus
said: “However, we feel compelled to take the decision to
immediately suspend services into the two Ebola affected
countries due to our interest in the wellbeing of Nigerians.”
Adebanji recalled that Gambian government also stopped
airlines, including Arik Air, from bringing inbound passengers
from Monrovia, Conakry, Guinea, and Freetown into Banjul
during the early stages of the development across West Africa.
“Hence, in line with the actions taken by the Gambian
Government, we trust, and are confident, that the Federal
Government of Nigeria shall take all steps necessary to control
and curtail the spread of the virus. We humbly suggest that as a
first step, all inbound flights into Nigeria, originating from any of
the Ebola-affected countries, be immediately suspended.”
Patrick Sawyer reportedly flew into Nigeria onboard Asky Airline
to attend an ECOWAS conference in Calabar, Cross River State,
when he fell ill and was later diagnosed of the dreaded Ebola
virus at First Consultants Medical Centre Ltd, Obalende, Lagos.
Ebola virus disease (EVD) or Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) is
the human disease caused by ebola viruses. Symptoms start
two days to three weeks after contracting the virus with a fever,
throat and muscle pains, and headaches. There is then nausea,
vomiting and diarrhea along with decreased functioning of the
liver and kidneys. At this point some people begin to have
problems with bleeding. The disease is first acquired by a
population when a person comes into contact with the blood or
bodily fluids of an infected animal such as a monkey or fruit bat.
Reuters reports that Ebola has killed over 632 people across
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since an outbreak began in
February 2014, straining a string of weak health systems
despite international help.