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"All five destinations we fly to in West Africa do not fall under the high-risk category which is associated with the travel ban - specifically Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Senegal," SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said.
The high-risk countries are Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia – with Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia being identified as medium risk.
"We will give full expression to what cabinet has indicated and are aligning with all our stakeholders in order to ensure that the decision to impose a travel ban finds full and proper expression on the ground," Tlali said.
The airline is currently in consultation with relevant government departments and could not immediately indicate what the impact on passenger volumes, both in bound and outbound would be.
On Thursday South Africa's ministry of health took the decision to impose a total travel ban for all non-citizens traveling from identified high-risk countries to limit the spread of Ebola to the country.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told reporters citizens of South Africa who wish to travel to these countries will be requested to delay their travel unless it is also absolutely essential for them to travel.
The travel advisory was part of enhanced precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Ebola into South Africa.
Additionally South African citizens returning from these countries will have to be subjected to a stricter screening process - including completing a comprehensive health questionnaire before gaining entry back into the country and if the comprehensive medical questionnaire and the temperature screening reveal something, they will have to subject themselves to a complete medical examination.
Passengers who travelled from or through Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone within the last month of arrival into South Arica must undergo additional screening at the Points of Entry.
Countries have been divided into three categories, namely high risk which includes Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, medium risk which includes Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia - although some of them do not have Ebola yet; most people travelling from West Africa to South Africa travel via these countries as well as low risk countries.
For medium and low risk countries, the normal surveillance that has been going on will just be enhanced.
If you must travel to one of the identified high-risk countries, please make sure to do the following:
- Practice careful hygiene. Avoid contact with blood and body fluids of sick persons.
- Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids.
- Avoid funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who has died from Ebola.
- Avoid contact with wild animals or with bush meat.
- Avoid hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated.
- The South African Embassy or consulate is often able to provide advice on facilities that are suitable for your needs.
- Seek medical care immediately if you develop fever, headache, achiness, sore throat, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, rash, or red eyes.
- Limit your contact with other people when you travel to the doctor. Do not travel anywhere else.
