WHO: The risk of spreading Ebola through air is very low

The World Health Organization (WHO) said it would not prohibit air travel to and from Ebola-infected countries in West Africa, because the risk of airborne spread is very low.

WHO's Chief of Warning and Response, Ms. Isabelle Nuttal, said Ebola is not transmitted through the air like flu or tuberculosis. Ebola virus is mainly transmitted through direct contact with body fluids, such as through blood, vomiting, sweat or diarrhea.

"The proportion of people infected with the epidemic is very small, the possibility of passengers and flight crews coming into contact with the body's fluid is even smaller," VOA quoted her as saying. "A person infected with Ebola can spread the disease to others only if he or she has symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea. People who have no signs of illness cannot infect, do not spread the disease to others" .

A nurse worker measured the passenger temperature with infrared equipment at Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport, Ivory Coast.The country earlier ordered a ban on travelers from infected countries and stopped national airline flights to and from infected countries.(Photo: Reuters)

According to Ms. Nuttal, it is common for people infected with Ebola to feel tired and unable to walk. Therefore, she said the WHO recommends not to prohibit travel to and from infected countries.

She said countries should carefully consider the risks before making a travel ban. These bans are unfounded and may have negative economic impacts on the tourism and trade sectors for some countries.

Korean Air announced yesterday that it will postpone flights to Kenya since August 20 as a way to prevent Ebola virus from spreading. The first airline to adopt similar measures is the Emirates of the United Arab Emirates. The airline delayed flights to Guinea on August 2.

West Africa is struggling with the worst Ebola epidemic in history. More than 1,800 people were infected with the virus and more than 1,000 people died, most of them in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Nigeria reported 9 cases of infection and three deaths.

One person died in Nigeria after flying from Liberia. However, this person was allowed to board the plane before the WHO declared a global emergency. Ms Nuttal said the WHO had advised airlines to check passengers arriving or leaving infected countries before sending them on board.

"They need to be able and willing to detect, investigate, as they will do throughout the year, because any disease can happen. This is the purpose of global health regulations, ensuring that all Both countries can detect serious cases and treat them immediately, " she said, adding that if a person is confirmed with Ebola, he or she must be isolated.