ABUJA – The U.S. Department of State has said that no Ebola-related travel restrictions have been issued by the agency for Nigeria, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
A “factsheet’’ issued by the state department on its response to Ebola virus, said the agency only issued a travel warning on Aug. 7, 2014 against non-essential travel to Liberia.
“Due to a lack of options for routine health care services, the Department of State ordered the departure of family members residing with embassy staff in Monrovia to begin Aug. 8, 2014.’’
It said U.S. government employees in Liberia would remain on active duty at the embassy and additional staff members are being deployed to assist Liberia in addressing the Ebola outbreak.
The State Department, however, said the U.S Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued alerts for the four West African countries affected by Ebola. [eap_ad_1] The countries, include Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
On Nigeria, CDC had issued “a level two alert’’.
The alert notifies travelers of the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria and to inform them of measures they can take to minimise risks of contracting the disease.
According to the State Department, U.S embassies in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone will remain open and will continue business as usual.
“We remain deeply committed to supporting regional and international efforts to deliver health care as well as contain and control the transmission of the Ebola virus,’’ the statement stated.
It added that the U.S. government was monitoring the situation closely and would update its response and travel recommendations as needed.
Further, it said the U.S was working with the WHO and other international partners to help West African governments respond to and contain the outbreak of the Ebola virus.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the death toll from the outbreak has risen to over 1000, with more than 1,711 cases. (NAN)
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