British Airways suspends flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone as Ebola death toll passes 880

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A health worker in a protective suit prepares for a shift at an Ebola isolation ward at a mission hospital outside of Monrovia, Liberia.

A health worker in a protective suit prepares for a shift at an Ebola isolation ward at a mission hospital outside of Monrovia, Liberia. Photo: Getty Images

British Airways announced on Tuesday that it has temporarily suspended flights to and from Liberia and Sierra Leone, two of the West African nations afflicted with the Ebola outbreak.

The suspension will remain in place until the end of August, “due to the deteriorating public health situation in both countries,” the airline said in a statement. “The safety of our customers, crew and ground teams is always our top priority and we will keep the route under constant review in the coming weeks.”

The airline is offering customers who already have tickets along those routes a full refund and the ability to re-book flights at a later date.

Volunteers prepare to remove the bodies of people who were suspected of contracting Ebola and died in the community in the village of Pendebu, Sierra Leone.

Volunteers prepare to remove the bodies of people who were suspected of contracting Ebola and died in the community in the village of Pendebu, Sierra Leone. Photo: Reuters

The Ebola virus has continued to spread in four West African nations including Liberia Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria. As of August 1, there have been 273 deaths reported in Sierra Leone and 255 deaths reported in Liberia. Throughout the region, more than 1600 cases of the disease have been reported.