…Air Namibia plane put under quarantine
By Deon Schlecther
WINDHOEK – Passengers on board an Air Namibia flight from Johannesburg to Windhoek got the fright of their lives this morning when they were informed about a possible case of Ebola after air hostesses tended to a passenger with symptoms of the dreaded disease that is wreaking havoc in West Africa at the moment.
The plane landed at 08:30 this morning and was immediately put into quarantine while a medical team from Windhoek rushed to the Hosea Kutako International Airport to examine the passenger.
The plane was still under quarantine by 11:30 this morning as medical doctors worked out to clear the passengers.
Wimpie van Vuuren, senior manager of marketing and communication of Air Namibia, said the passenger started complaining of symptoms related to the Ebola virus during the flight.
“We are almost certain that the passenger is not suffering from Ebola after the first initial tests were done by the medical team, but Air Namibia has to follow all procedures as prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in such cases,” he said.
“We have a responsibility towards every passenger and the country not to allow the spread on any infectinous disease and we will follow the WHO procedures to the letter in this case as Ebola is a deadly virus that kills more than 80 percent of those who have attracted it.”
“The medical team is doing a thorough examination of the passenger and other passengers will only be allowed to leave once this has been done to satisfaction. Air Namibi regrets the inconvenience but trusts that passengers will understand the seriousness of the situation,” he concluded.