Ebola ruled out for 5 on Dubai-Boston flight

Emirates airline has confirmed five passengers showing ‘flu-like symptoms’ have been quarantined at Boston’s Logan International Airport following an alert raised by its crew.

The incident occurred aboard Monday’s Dubai-Boston flight, EK237.

Ebola has been ruled out for the five people, officials said.

Following the 14-hour flight, the plane was quarantined for reportedly two hours upon landing around 2.30pm in Boston, while an emergency Hazmat team was called to the flight and the passengers taken in for medical check-ups.

The remaining passengers have been cleared.

A spokesperson from Emirates airline confirmed the incident took place in a statement to Emirates 24|7, saying: “Five passengers travelling from Dubai to Boston on EK237, October 13, reported flu-like symptoms during the flight, and as a precaution our crew alerted the Boston authorities.”

The spokesperson further added: “The flight was met by the airport emergency services on arrival, and the affected passengers have been taken for medical check-ups.

“Emirates is fully cooperating with the authorities in Boston. The safety of our passengers and crew is always of paramount importance."

Meanwhile, Reuters has quoted the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention as stating there was no Ebola scare at Boston’s Logan Airport following the Emirates incident.

The US is on high alert after three separate incidences have been reported on commercial flights across the country this past week, with five airports, including New York’s JFK, Newark Liberty, Washington Dulles, Chicago O’Hare and Atlanta international airports, all employing enhanced Ebola screenings from this week.

The decision to screen travellers entering the US was announced last week following the death of the first person with a case of Ebola in the country.

That patient, Thomas E Duncan, travelled to Dallas from Liberia.

Meanwhile, other European countries, including the UK and France, are also considering starting a screening process for passengers arriving on flights from the West African countries hit by the Ebola outbreak.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.