Keyamo Enforces 21-Day Flight Ban on Ebola Contacts

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to prohibit 46 contacts of Nigeria's confirmed Ebola patient from flying for 21 days. This decision aims to prevent the potential spread of the disease.

The minister announced this on Wednesday following a virtual meeting with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate. The 46 individuals include 44 contacts from a hospital where the infected woman exhibited symptoms and two members of her domestic staff.

Keyamo emphasized the need for isolation of these contacts while health authorities evaluate their exposure. He instructed the NCAA to inform all domestic and international airlines of this restriction and mandated the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to enhance Ebola surveillance and response measures at international airports.

These measures include health screenings, temperature checks, and improved coordination with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The Ebola patient, a woman who traveled from Uganda, is currently receiving treatment in isolation in Abuja.