Ebola & the Shipping Industry: Latest McQuilling Analysis

Although the Ebola epidemic has remained predominantly in West Africa, fears about the virus have spread globally and it is becoming a cause for concern in the transportation industry. From air to sea, companies are beginning to take precautionary measures including suspending flights to various airports in West Africa and refusing to call at specific West African ports reports Marine Transport Advisors, McQuilling Services, in a 'Tanker Industry Note'.

In what’s being described as the largest and deadliest outbreak in history to hit West Africa, the current Ebola epidemic has claimed the lives of roughly 2,400 people as of mid-September, according to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO). With the first known human case reported in Guinea, the virus has since spread to Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone (see accompanying distribution map).

There are also a few known cases reported in Senegal; however, one of them, a 21-year old student who had visited recently Guinea, is said to have recovered. Further to this, as of September 10, WHO reports indicate there have been 62 cases reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; however, they are said to be unrelated to the original outbreak in Guinea.

There are multiple strains of the Ebola virus, including Tai Forest ebolavirus (0% death rate), Reston ebolavirus (0% death rate), Bundibugyo ebolavirus (27% death rate), Sudan ebolavirus (53% death rate) and Zaire ebolavirus (68% death rate). The current outbreak is of the Zaire ebolavirus species and historically has the highest death rate of the five different species, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Zaire ebolavirus got its name after it was first detected in 1976 in Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Total cases through September 12 are estimated to be around 4,784). The highest death rate recorded is in Guinea at 64%, followed by Liberia at 51%. The WHO anticipates the number of people infected will reach nearly 20,000 in the next six to nine months.

In response to the outbreak, several countries like Brazil and Argentina, have issued guidelines for owners to abide by when calling at their ports, while some countries have suspended activity all together. Port authorities in West and Central Africa are also taking measures at ports in the affected countries.

Source: McQuilling Services