Guyana imposes restrictions on West Africans access

Georgetown: Guyana will join other countries to impose restrictions on entry into the country as the Ministry of Health announced that persons who may pose a threat to the health of the Nation by the importation of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) particularly regarding citizens of and visitors to West African countries where the disease is currently raging and represents a Public Health Threat of International Concern will not be allowed entry. The Caribbean islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia have both placed a travel ban on nationals from the West African nations affected by Ebola. Some other Caribbean states have indicated that they are not ready to move in that direction as yet. At the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, a medical team has been set up and airport staff are being trained continuously about some of the signs they should be looking for when passengers arrive. The Georgetown Public Hospital is also continuing the training of several of its medical professionals and other staff members. The Hospital has already set aside a special area for any possible case of ebola to be isolated. Porters and other staff members have also been pulled in for training. There are no direct flights between Guyana and West Africa. Guyana is however home to a number of Nigerian medical students who attend the Texila University. Nigerian has so far been able to successfully contain the Ebola virus and persons travelling from that country to Guyana would be subject to several screenings before arriving here.