Malawi takes measures on Mali trip due to Ebola
FAM and the Malawi National Council of Sports have said they are taking precautionary measures before the Flames travel to Mali for their 2015 Afcon qualifier in the wake of the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
The Flames travel to Mali for their first Group B match on September 5.
Overwhelmed West African nations called state of emergency on Thursday as the death toll from Ebola epidemic nears1 000. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is also considering global travel restrictions to halt its spread.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu and Sports Council executive secretary George Jana said they are worried about the Flames’ safety.
“The Ebola outbreak is of great concern as we look forward to the Mali trip. We want to see if we can get an assurance from the relevant authorities, in particular, the Ministry of Health, on whether it will be safe to travel to Mali.
“We will also be writing the continent’s football governing body CAF to inquire about our team’s safety and if it will not be guaranteed, then they should consider shifting it to a neutral venue because we do not want to take chances,” said Nyamilandu.
Jana said apart from seeking Ministry of Health advice, they will try all means to ensure that the team’s safety is guaranteed before the trip.
“We will get involved and find out which countries they will be passing through. Much as we are aware that other airlines have curtailed flights to affected countries, but still it is not 100 percent safe and we have to be on high alert,” said Jana.
Like Nyamilandu, Jana also said if necessary, they may seek a neutral venue.
Ebola has claimed at least 932 lives and infected more than 1 700 people since breaking out in West Africa earlier this year, according to WHO.
Ebola causes severe fever and, in the worst cases, unstoppable bleeding. It is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids and people who live with or care for patients are most at risk.
