The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) has urged travellers to exercise extreme caution when travelling to China to avoid contracting the deadly Corona Virus.
KATA through their Chief Executive Officer Ms. Agnes Mucuha, stated that that travelers should put off non-essential travel to China until the disease is contained.
Ms Mucuha asserted that Kenyans should avoid all travel to China but especially to Wuhan and Hubei provinces adding that the areas were a risk until fully contained.
This comes in the wake of the national carrier Kenya Airways halting the now very popular flights to
Guangzhou China to avoid contamination. Ms. Mucuha was speaking at her office in Westlands where she met with leading travel agents to chart a way forward.
‘’KATA travel agents are jointly advising their clients on precautionary measures in line with the directives issued by the government, should travel become necessary as instructed by the Ministry of Health. We care about our clients and choose life, better safe than sorry ‘, said Ms. Mucuha.
The recently appointed CEO was keen to add that KATA played gatekeeper on who travels when and where and was best placed to work with the government to contain unnecessary exposure.
The corona virus has so far claimed 213 lives all in china. Chinese health authorities said there were
7,711 confirmed cases as at 29 January.
Infections have also spread to at least 15 other countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) have declared the virus a global health emergency.
Various countries have implemented evacuation and quarantine plans for nationals wanting to return from China, where the outbreak began in the city of Wuhan so far.
“Although Kenya is not yet directly affected, it is important to take caution and avoid unnecessary travel to China,” said Ms. Mucuha, adding that human-to-human transmission was a major concern.
Our Source: Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA)
