Air France halts flights to Sierra Leone

French flag carrier Air France has canceled flights to Sierra Leone amid fears over the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

The decision came on Wednesday following the French government’s request for a “temporary suspension” of flights to Sierra Leone’s capital city of Freetown.

Paris has already asked French citizens to leave Sierra Leone and Liberia in response to the epidemic that has claimed over 1,400 lives so far.

Air France, however, announced that the flights to and from Guinea and Nigeria, both of them affected by the disease, will continue as scheduled. 

“In light of the analysis of the situation and as requested by the French government, Air France confirms it is maintaining its program of flights to and from Guinea and Nigeria,” the carrier said.

Air France’s decision comes at a time that some other airlines, including British Airways and Brussels Airlines, have restricted their flights to West Africa which is seen as the birthplace of the deadly disease.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has raised alarm over the lack of flights to deliver aid and medical supplies to the region.

“The current limitations on flights into and out of these countries, and the restrictions placed on aircraft originating from these countries transiting through airports in neighboring countries, though understandable, are not warranted,” Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said on Monday.

Ebola is a form of hemorrhagic fever whose symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding.

The virus spreads through direct contact with infected blood, feces or sweat. It can also be spread through sexual contact or the unprotected handling of contaminated corpses.

It remains one of the world’s most virulent diseases, which kills between 25 to 90 percent of those who fall sick.

MSM/MAM/MHB