Q: I'M BOOKED ON AN AFRICAN SAFARI ADVENTURE. WHAT ARE THE RISKS FROM EBOLA?
Many travellers who have booked holidays in Africa have been asking this question, and some have cancelled trips, yet for anyone headed for Eastern and Southern Africa, there is nothing to fear.
The African countries that have recorded deaths from Ebola so far are Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria and Mali. All these countries are in West Africa, which is not a major tourism destination, nor a popular one for travellers looking to experience African wildlife, tribal culture and scenery.
The most popular African holiday destinations for Australian travellers are Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The closest of any of these countries to another country where Ebola has been reported is Uganda. The western border of Uganda is 2160 kilometres away from the nearest point in Nigeria, the closest country with recorded deaths from Ebola, a total of eight. This is slightly greater than the distance between Melbourne and Townsville.
Travel insurers report that there is no change in the cover they offer to travellers visiting African countries not affected by the Ebola virus and travellers who cancel a trip to a non-infected area when there is no Australian government travel advisory recommending against travel to that region would probably find it difficult to reclaim any non-refundable expenses from their insurer.
The only way to catch the virus is by direct contact with the bodily fluids of a person infected with Ebola. Unlike flu, it is not an airborne disease, and cannot be transmitted by breathing the same air as someone with Ebola.
