Kenya’s national carrier has suspended all flights to and from China because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The virus has caused more than 200 deaths in China with and 98 cases in 18 other countries.
Six suspected cases had been reported across Africa over the last week but the patients tested negative for the virus. The case in Kenya involved a student who was quarantined after arriving from Wuhan city, the epicentre of the outbreak in China.
Kenya Airways said consultations were ongoing with the ministries of health and foreign affairs on the length of the suspension.
It added that its route to Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, would still be operational.
Ethiopian Airlines, one of Africa’s biggest operators, announced on Thursday that it would continue operating all its flights to China.
It says it is working with Chinese and Ethiopian authorities to “protect its passengers and crew” from the virus.
RwandAir, Air Madagascar, Air Mauritus and Royal Air Maroc have suspended flights to mainland China because of the coronavirus outbreak that has killed at least 213 people there.
The airlines said the suspensions are indefinite, and have offered to refund or re-route passengers who had booked flights to China.
Earlier on Friday Kenya Airways suspended all flights to China.
The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the coronavirus a global emergency, but said there was no reason to limit trade or travel to China.
Rwanda’s national carrier has announced the suspension of its flights to and from Guangzhou from Friday.
Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc said it was suspending flights to China until end of February because of “a very low demand” for the route it operates between Casablanca to Beijing.
Air Madagascar has said it will suspend flights to and from Guangzhou from Saturday as “a measure of caution”.
Meanwhile, Air Mauritius has suspended its flights to and from Shanghai from Friday, but flights to Hong Kong will be maintained.
BBC