Ebola: Madagascar imposes 21-day quarantine on Kenya travellers
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on L'Express de Madagascar
Madagascar will impose a 21-day quarantine on travellers arriving from Kenya, in designated hotels and at their own expense. The measure is to take effect on Monday to limit the risk of Ebola being introduced, according to Madagascar’s Ministry of Public Health.
Madagascar will impose a 21-day quarantine on travellers arriving from Kenya from the Monday following publication of the measure, the Ministry of Public Health said in a statement reported by L’Express de Madagascar. Passengers will be accommodated in hotels designated by the authorities and will have to pay for their accommodation and meals themselves. The measure follows an interministerial note on strengthening health checks at the borders.
Kenya thus joins the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria among the countries subject to special measures linked to the risk of Ebola. Between five and six direct flights a week connect Kenya to Madagascar. The authorities have given travellers until the Sunday before the measure takes effect to make arrangements.
The previous week, Malagasy authorities were concerned about their capacity to accommodate the 500 to 600 people arriving from or transiting through Kenya. The Ministry of Health is urging travellers to limit their movements and transits in the countries concerned. Madagascar has recorded no cases of Ebola; two suspected cases reported there tested negative, according to the ministry.
The mandatory quarantine implements the strengthening of checks announced on 26 October in Madagascar’s measures to check travellers arriving from Kenya.
