Following the outbreak of the Ebola Virus in West Africa, Cotonou port authorities have taken several preventive measures to fight the spread of the virus.
For all vessels calling Cotonou port, Benin the agent is required to send to the Harbor Master office a port of call list mentioning the last 10 ports of calls, three days prior to arrival.
The port authority said all vessels arriving from or which have called at a ports in one of the countries infected by ebola should have on board prevention equipment including gloves, masks, sanitizing gel and others.
“In addition, all vessels arriving from or which have called at a port in one of the countries infected by Ebola, and which have prevention equipment onboard, must stay at anchorage and receive ‘free pratique’ from port health authorities prior to pilot boarding.
“It is also mandatory for all crew and anyone boarding such vessels to wear masks and gloves throughout the entire port stay. Several Western African countries have been investing strenuous efforts so as to mitigate the spread of the virus,” Cotonou port stated yesterday.
According to the Associated Press, Liberia’s president has closed all but three land border crossings, restricted public gatherings and quarantined communities heavily affected by the Ebola outbreak in the West African nation.
On the other hand, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete promised on Tuesday to assign around half a million USD to aid the fight against Ebola.
On August 8, 2014, WHO declared the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in accordance with the International Health Regulations 2005.
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