NEW YORK, October 27 (RIA Novosti) — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is concerned over restrictions on aid workers returning from West African countries hit by an Ebola outbreak, a UN spokesperson stated Monday.
“He [Ban Ki-moon] believes that these restrictions have put particular pressure on health care workers and those who have been on the frontline of the Ebola response,” the UN representative said.
“Returning health workers are exceptional people who are giving of themselves for humanity. They should not be subjected to restrictions that are not based on science. Those who develop infections should be supported, not stigmatized.”
Over the weekend, the governors of three US states – Illinois, New Jersey and New York – said they were introducing 21-day quarantines on aid workers returning from Ebola-stricken West Africa, despite objections from the White House.
“The best way for any country to protect itself from Ebola is to stop the outbreak at its source in West Africa. This requires considerable international health care worker support and in return for this support, we have an obligation to look after them,” the spokesperson added.
More than 10,000 people have contracted the Ebola virus, with more than 4,900 deaths, according to the UN’s World Health Organization. The absolute majority of the cases have occurred inside Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
