Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to banning all flights from countries in Africa in which cases of the Ebola virus have occurred.

All avenues to restrict the virus entering the UK are under constant review. UK Airlines are constantly reviewing the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s travel advice when planning their services and ensuring that measures they take are consistent with Public Health England guidance.

Currently, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the World Health Organisation are not recommending travel restrictions to countries in Africa with cases of Ebola. UK airlines are not planning to stop services to these countries. However, airlines and the UK Government are constantly reviewing the situation.

A ban on direct flights would not allow a country to avoid the spread of a virus altogether, as potentially infected passengers could travel via hubs in third countries.