The African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) insists that travel to much of East Africa is continuing as normal, despite an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
In a medical advisory issued to its members, it said the potentially fatal disease remains geographically contained.
ATTA Group CEO Virginia Messina said: “The Ebola outbreak remains contained to specific regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a few imported cases in Kampala, Uganda. The rest of the African nations remain unaffected and travel continues as normal.
“We are in close contact with the national authorities who have extensive experience and protocols from previous outbreaks, including surveillance systems, rapid response teams and international coordination to try to contain this event as quickly as possible”.
This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’ over the outbreak, its highest level of alert under international health regulations.
While WHO officials emphasised that it does not constitute a pandemic, the outbreak raises concerns for parts of one of Africa’s busiest tourism regions at the start of peak safari season.
The UK Foreign Office has advised that passengers departing Uganda may be subject to temperature checks, but it does not currently advise against travelling there.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Tanzania has not reported any suspected or confirmed cases, but has stepped up surveillance and strengthened border screening.
On 18 May, Tanzania’s Ministry of Health issued a travel advisory introducing enhanced health screening for travellers arriving from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The WHO has advised that countries avoid closing their borders or imposing travel and trade restrictions, cautioning that this could drive people to use unregulated crossings and weaken efforts to control the spread.
Virginia Messina added: “WHO is advising against blanket travel barriers or restrictions. We will continue to monitor developments carefully, providing members with timely and accurate updates”.
The WHO confirmed earlier this week that this outbreak, which has killed more than 100 people, is linked to the Bundibugyo strain. It can cause symptoms including fever, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhoea, and is spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or with contaminated materials.
