Gambia has banned flights from Ebola-hit west African countries from landing in its territory, airport officials say.
Staff at Banjul International Airport said President Yahya Jammeh had ordered airlines to cancel all flights from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in a bid to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
"This decision by the Gambian authorities has left prospective passengers travelling to Banjul ... stranded in these west African countries," said an airport official on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"Brussels Airlines, which transits in Freetown from Europe, is only allowed to drop passengers there, but not pick anyone up."
The outbreak in Guinea is one of the most deadly in history, with 168 cases "clinically compatible" with Ebola virus disease reported, including 108 deaths, since the start of the year, according to the World Health Organisation.
The outbreak began in the impoverished country's southern forests, but has spread to Conakry, a sprawling port city on the Atlantic coast and home to two million people.
Neighbouring Liberia has reported 21 suspected cases, including 10 deaths.
Mali also has suspected cases but does not appear to have been included in the ban, while Sierra Leone, which has no suspected cases, is on the list of outlawed countries.
There was no immediate official confirmation of the ban from the government of Gambia but an airport worker said a letter dated April 10 enforcing the measures had been sent to airlines while Sierra Leone's government said it was in talks with Banjul over the issue.
Sierra Leone, where two suspected victims died and were buried before they could be tested, said it was not questioning Gambia's right to take action but had no idea of the rationale behind the decision.
Witnesses at Freetown's Lungi International Airport told AFP around 100 Sierra Leoneans, mostly traders, had been planning trips to Gambia but had seen their flights cancelled.
Gambia, a country of about 1.8 million, is a finger of territory flanking the Gambia River, with Senegal on either side and a narrow Atlantic coastline.
