SAA continues to fly to West Africa

The airline said the Emergency Committee of WHO on the Ebola outbreak held a meeting in Geneva from 6 - 7 August. The meeting, said SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali, concluded that there "should be no general ban on international travel or trade" to that region.

A total of 1,848 cases and 1,013 deaths have been confirmed since the outbreak was reported in West Africa in March.

"Having noted the announcement by WHO, SAA has stepped up measures aimed at protecting its passengers, crew and ground staff," said Tlali on Wednesday, 13 August.

SAA flies to five destinations in West Africa, namely Abidjan (Ivory Coast); Accra (Ghana); Cotonou (Benin); Dakar (Senegal) and Lagos (Nigeria).

"There is no travel ban to any of these destinations as a result of the outbreak of the virus in that region. The airline remains committed to ensuring the enforcement of international health protocols associated with air transport," said Tlali.

The measures include ensuring that the airline has in place vigilant staff that will be on the lookout for passengers who bear specific and visible symptoms associated with the Ebola virus. SAA staff is adequately trained to manage incidents of this nature, should a need to do so arise.

In cases where a passenger may bear visible symptoms associated with the infection at check-in, such passengers will be isolated from the others. This will be followed with passenger interviews and tests conducted by the health authorities in order to determine the possible cause of the symptoms.

"In the event that there is any doubt regarding the medical condition of any suspected passenger, SAA may elect to deny such passenger/s to board its aircraft.

"In cases where passengers develop symptoms after the aircraft has commenced its flight, the crew on board will initiate specific procedures that include isolating such passengers from others on board the aircraft," said Tlali.

This will eliminate possible physical interaction of affected passengers with other passengers.

The virus is not airborne and no transmission may occur due to air circulation in the cabin. It is transmitted through infected bodily fluids of a sick passenger.

Each of SAA's aircraft has been equipped with special protective gear for crew on board to wear and to enable them to respond to any passengers suspected of having been infected, or displaying the listed symptoms that include sweating, nose bleeding or vomiting.

There is also a special biohazard waste disposal kit intended for the safe disposal of waste.

SAA will remain in communication with its local health authorities and will monitor the situation on a continuous basis. This will enable the airline to constantly do risk assessment and review its decisions, should there be developments that warrant such a review.

"SAA would like to urge everyone travelling to the West African region to take the necessary precaution and be vigilant," said Tlali.

Earlier this week, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi reiterated that there are no cases of Ebola reported in South Africa.

"We [are not] at the level of panic..." he said.

Meanwhile, WHO has authorised the use of experimental drugs to fight Ebola.