The deadliest outbreak on record of the Ebola virus has prompted some countries to respond with travel bans, in a bid to contain it.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended against any general ban on travel or trade with the West African countries affected by the epidemic. The three countries most affected are Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. There were a small number of cases in both Senegal and Nigeria, but the WHO declared Senegal Ebola-free on October 18 and declared Nigeria Ebola-free on October 20.
Travel restrictions imposed by various countries:
Zambia, August 9: Bans travellers from countries affected by the Ebola virus.
Kenya, August 16: Bans travellers from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
South Africa, August 21: Restricts entry for non-citizens traveling from Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone; restrictions could be waived for “absolutely essential travel”.
Gabon, August 22: Restricting issuance of entry visas to travellers from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria on case-by-case basis.
Rwanda, August 22: Bans those who visited Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone in prior 22 days.
Senegal, August 22: Bans flights to and from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. It also shut its southern land border with Guinea.
Ivory Coast, August 23: Closed land borders with Guinea and Liberia, reopened in October.
Seychelles, August 26: Bans travellers who have visited Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo “for any length of time”. Also bans Seychelles nationals from travelling to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Nigeria or Democratic Republic of Congo, unless permitted by Public Health Commissioner.
Guyana, September 9: Stops issuing visas to citizens of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Ban not announced until October 16.
Haiti, October 3: Bans volunteers from departing for African countries hit by the Ebola virus; issued after United Nations said it was recruiting volunteers to respond to the Ebola outbreak. It also bans entry to travellers who have been in Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone over the previous 28 days. Those who have visited the four countries more than 28 days before seeking to enter Haiti must present a government-certified health certificate and the results of a blood test for Ebola upon arrival.
Mauritius, October 8: Bans travellers who have visited Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal and Democratic Republic of Congo in the previous two months. Bans on Senegal and Nigeria lifted October 10 and 17, respectively.
Colombia, October 14: Denies entry to travellers who have visited Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria in past four weeks.
St Kitts and Nevis, October 15: Bans visitors from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Travellers who have visited the three countries in the previous 21 days are also be banned.
Jamaica, October 16: Bans foreigners arriving from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone and bans foreigners who have visited any of the countries within four weeks prior to arrival in Jamaica. Jamaicans who have visited those countries will be quarantined for 28 days.
Antigua and Barbuda, October 17: Bans nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and bans entry to anyone who has been in those countries in the past 21 days.
Belize, October 18: Stops issuing visas to nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria. Sierra Leone nationals, who don’t need a visa to enter, are also banned. Anyone who visits one of these countries in past 30 days is denied entry.
Dominican Republic, October 21: Bans entry to foreigners who have visited countries where the WHO has declared an Ebola alert in the past 30 days.
Suriname, October 21: Bans non-Surinamers who have visited Sierra Leone, Guinea or Liberia in the previous 21 days.
St Lucia, October 22: Nationals from Sierra Leone and Guinea banned from entering.
North Korea, October 23: Bans entry to foreigners on tourist trips.
Cape Verde, October 23: Bans travels by non-resident foreigners who have been in Sierra Leone, Guinea or Liberia in the past 30 days.
Equatorial Guinea, October 23: Denies entry to travellers whose trips originated in countries affected by Ebola.
St Vincent and the Grenadines, October 23: Bans visitors from Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Australia, October 28: Stops processing humanitarian and immigration visas from West African nations affected by the Ebola outbreak. All non-permanent or temporary visas were cancelled and permanent visa holders not yet in Australia are quarantined for 21 days.
* Sources: Reuters, government websites, https://www.internationalsos.com/ebola/index.cfm?content_id=435&