The International Civil Aviation Organisation has urged governments and airlines to closely follow guidelines put in place after the COVID-19 pandemic.

ICAO made the call as a deadly Ebola strain continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with cases confirmed in neighbouring Uganda.

The outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain is a major cause for concern in the DRC, where there have been more than 900 suspected cases and around 220 suspected deaths.

The UN aviation agency also urged governments and airlines to closely follow guidelines put in place after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain is a major cause for concern in the DRC, where there have been more than 900 suspected cases and around 220 suspected deaths.

So far, seven confirmed cases have been reported in Uganda.

The World Health Organisation says that the outbreak, which it has declared a public health emergency of international concern, is spreading faster than health workers can contain it.

On Tuesday, the UN agency called on governments and aviation stakeholders to adhere strictly to WHO recommendations to mitigate any Ebola-related risks.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused massive disruption to air travel, prompting ICAO to establish new protocols for rapid, standardised information sharing among States, airlines, airports and health agencies.

Digital innovations, such as electronic health declarations and contactless border processes, have been incorporated into ICAO’s recommendations to track and manage health risks more effectively.

ICAO is also coordinating with WHO and its member states to provide measures to prevent the transmission of the disease through air travel.

These measures are also designed to protect the health of aviation personnel and passengers, reassure travellers and keep flight cancellations to a minimum.

Meanwhile, the WHO air travel guidance states that countries should not close borders or impose restrictions on travel and trade, and that entry screening outside the affected region is not necessary for passengers returning from areas at risk.

Rather, it advised that exit screening can be implemented in affected countries for all persons at international airports for unexplained illness associated with fever and consistent with other symptoms of potential BVD.

WHO also urged health authorities to ensure that confirmed cases and contacts of BVD are detected and isolated, and that such individuals do not undertake international travel unless it is part of an appropriate medical evacuation.

(NAN)