EAST AFRICAN COUNTRIES READY TO SCREEN TRAVELLERS FROM CHINA FOR NEW CORONA VIRUS
(Posted 23rd January 2020)
Travelers to East Africa, already being screened for elevated temperatures – indicating a viral infection – and for carrying a Yellow Fever inoculation
certificate, will see a new level of controls introduced following the spread of China’s latest virus outbreak to a number of foreign countries, including the US.
Existing health check points will see additional staffing, particularly vigilant when flights originating from China arrive at East Africa’s key airports. Beyond that is work underway to expand the health questionnaire travelers have to fill out with regard to visits in the immediate past to China and countries already named where the infection has spread to.
East Africa has over the past two years successfully defended against the Ebola outbreak in Eastern Congo and the measures introduced at both airports and land borders have so far proved to be sufficient to keep the disease at bay.
One health organization source pointed out that they expect the measures taken to stop the new Corona Virus to reach East Africa’s shores will be equally successful and the added inconvenience for travelers is something worth accepting to keep the new virus out of the region.
