Chinese Ship in Quarantine over Ebola Fears

A Chinese-flagged ship  heading  from Sierra Leone to Cape Verde was put in quarantine in Sao Vicente yesterday so as to make sure the crew hasn’t been infected by the fatal Ebola virus,  Xinhua News Agency reports.

As explained by Cape Verde Health Minister Cristina Fontes, the ship which is situated off the port since last week, has been visited by the health authorities and so far there were no signs of infection.

However, the ship will remain 21 days in quarantine to avoid any possible risk.

The Chinese ship left Sierra Leone on 31 July.

The global shipping organizations issued a warning and a guidance on risks posed to ships’ crews calling in countries affected by the Ebola virus.

As of this May an outbreak of Ebola has hit Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria and is the largest outbreak of Ebola in history.

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By Adnan Halilovic,
World Maritime News Staff, August 15, 2014; Image: WHO