Ebola continues to spread in West Africa with the latest reports indicating that over 2,630 people have died since the outbreak began.
Yesterday, Malta turned away a vessel travelling from Guinea to Ukraine over fears that a crew member may have been infected with Ebola. Fears were also raised in New Orleans in connection with a vessel whose crew fell ill after calling at the port of Matadi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The symptoms were later diagnosed as malaria.
This morning marked the beginning of a three day curfew in Sierra Leone which will see ports shut down until 22 September, indicating that the outbreak has reached a critical point in the country.
A recent Reed Smith Client Alert by Nick Shaw, Sally-Ann Underhill and Jessica Sullivan examines the effect of Ebola on shipping contracts. Reed Smith are able to advise on the legal implications of the Ebola outbreak, including the drafting of Ebola clauses. If you have any questions, please contact Nick Shaw, Sally-Ann Underhill, or your usual Reed Smith contact.