Bangalore : South Africa is safe for all visitors planning to fly into the country, as the risk of being affected by the dreaded Ebola diseases is low, an official of its state-run airline said here Wednesday.
“With no case of Ebola virus disease reported so far, our country remains open and safe for all planning to visit,” South African Airways’ India manager Sajid Khan assured prospective fliers in a statement.
As South Africa does not share land border with any of the Ebola-affected countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed it under a low-risk category along with India and Europe.
“Just as health, well-being and safety of our passengers and crew are of utmost priority for us, we urge all tourists not to panic,” Khan said.
“The health department is working with WHO and the US centres for disease control and prevention to monitor the situation,” Khan said.
The department has installed thermal scanners at Tambo Johannesburg airport to check inbound travellers with raised temperatures.
“The suspected travellers, when identified, are quarantined and assessed at the medical facilities in the airport itself,” Khan noted.
Besides regular fumigation and disinfection of the aircraft, airport health officials have stepped up surveillance with the signs and symptoms of the virus to alert visitors.
“All foreign nationals testing positive for Ebola and all citizens of its affected nations are denied entry into South Africa,” Khan added.
