Ebola Fears Force St Vincent and the Grenadines to Implement Visa requirements for Nigerians

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Sept. 22, 2014 – The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has made a determination that personnel especially students from Nigeria to St. Vincent and the Grenadines must be in possession of a valid Entry Visa and Certified Medical Certificate indicating that they have been tested for Ebola and are clear from infection.

An advisory posted on the Liat website said failure to adhere to this measure would result in these passengers being denied entry to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

On Monday the World Health Organisation said the outbreaks of Ebola in Senegal and Nigeria have been “pretty much contained.”

There have been no new confirmed cases of Ebola in Senegal since the first case was reported Aug. 29, and the last case of Ebola reported in Nigeria was Sept. 8, the WHO’s regional office for Africa said in a statement.

The news comes on the same day the WHO released details from the second meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Ebola. One of the top conclusions from the group was that travel and trade should continue in West Africa:

“Flight cancellations and other travel restrictions continue to isolate affected countries resulting in detrimental economic consequences, and hinder relief and response efforts risking further international spread,” the committee said.

The Committee reiterated WHO stances on making sure health care workers are protected from possible infections and ensuring people who are quarantined still have access to food and water.

There are currently 5,833 cases of Ebola in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (though the DRC outbreak is thought to be unrelated to the others). Among those cases, 2,833 people have died.