Muscat: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Sunday issued its first circular to the travellers and airlines operating in the Sultanate of Oman regarding the Ebola outbreak based on the World Health Organization recommendations.
On light of the current Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the republic of Uganda, and its recent international updates, the CAA, based on coordination with the Medical Response Sector, alerts all airlines operating into the Sultanate of Oman, and all travellers arriving from or departing to the affected areas follow the official health updates issued by health authorities and the World Health Organization.
The CAA stressed the importance of avoiding unnecessary travel to areas affected by the outbreak and ensuring that health insurance and medical evacuation insurance are available when needed.
During travel and stay, the CAA advises the public to avoid contact with people who show symptoms of illness such as fever, bleeding, vomiting, or diarrhea and to avoid contact with blood and other body fluids in general as well as contact with other people or the personal items of infected individuals.
The CAA stressed the importance of washing hands regularly and use alcohol-based sanitizers and avoiding visiting health facilities in affected areas.
The CAA also urges all those who travel and stay in affected areas to avoid handling wild animals and eating undercooked meat.
The CAA warned against attending funerals or gatherings that may involve direct contact with infected or diseased people.
The CAA said that upon arriving in the Sultanate of Oman, travelers are required to monitor their health for 21 days from the date of leaving the affected areas.
It said that in the case of showing symptoms of fever, severe headache, diarrhea or vomiting, unexplained bleeding and extreme fatigue, the person should immediately visit the nearest health facility and inform the health staff of the travel history and the areas they visited.
Travellers returning from affected areas are also required to avoid contact with others until they receive a clean bill of health.
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