Ebola outbreak: Govt requested to save crew en route to Africa

KARACHI: Ansar Burney has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the deaths in the West African countries due to the outbreak of deadly virus Ebola and has requested authorities to stop or divert PNSC's MV Malakand from traveling to West Africa, in a statement issued on Monday.. A Pakistani bulk carrier ship, MV Malakand, under Pakistan National Shipping Company flag, is travelling to the Port of Sierra Leone, West Africa, and is anticipated to be anchored in next two or three days, chairman of Ansar Burney Trust International said. Former federal minister for human rights campaigner Ansar Burney said that following its outbreak, the deadly virus named as Ebola had spread to most of the west African countries including Sierra Leone and had claimed about 1,000 lives so far. He added saving the lives of the Pakistani crew members of the ship MV Malakand and their safe return may not be possible and could lead to the spread the virus in Pakistan. The World Health Organisation has already declared the health emergency' in the West African Countries due to outbreak the Ebola virus. Burney said in the current scenario and sensing the threat, Ansar Burney Trust' had requested President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Ports & Shipping to take immediate steps and issue directives to stop MV Malakand, which was in the open sea, and to deviate it to any nearest safe port for offloading.