A Liberian Army soldier, part of the Ebola Task Force, beats a local resident while enforcing a quarantine on the West Point slum. The government ordered a quarantine of the congested seaside. * Getty Images/CNN
STATEMENT - The Ministry of Health notes the restriction placed on travel into St. Lucia by visitors from the 3 West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, which are currently being severely affected by the ongoing Ebola epidemic.
These three West African countries have been described by the World Health Organization as having “widespread and intense EVD transmission’. In addition, the WHO indicates that the Ebola epidemic is currently worsening in these three countries with projections for rapid increases in the number of persons infected in the coming weeks and months.
As a result of this deteriorating situation in West Africa, we believe that the decision to ban entry of visitors who have a recent history of travel from Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone, is in the best interest of a developing country such as St. Lucia, in order to reduce the risk to the public at large and in particular, health care workers.
The Ministry of Health again wishes to advise its citizens against travel to Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone at this time.
