Ebola Outbreak: Countries Impose Travel Restrictions

The Ebola Outbreak and Travel Restrictions

The latest outbreak of a rare strain of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda has prompted several governments to take action in a bid to stop the spread of the disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 220 suspected deaths and 900 suspected cases of the lethal Bundibugyo (BVD) strain of Ebola in DRC since Kinshasa declared the outbreak on May 15. In Uganda, five cases and one death have been confirmed.

Efforts to Contain the Virus in Affected Countries

This week, the Congolese Ministry of Transport and Communications suspended all flights to and from Bunia in eastern DRC in an attempt to contain the Ebola outbreak. The Bunia health zone is one of 11 DRC health zones affected by the disease. Some exceptions, such as humanitarian, medical and emergency flights, may be allowed with special approval from aviation and health authorities.

Uganda has also introduced restrictions on travel to and from the DRC. All direct flights have been suspended, while bus and boat border crossings have been halted for four weeks. Weekly markets in border districts have been put on hold. Freight traffic, essential goods and food supplies, however, are still permitted to cross.

Countries Imposing Travel Bans

Beyond the immediate affected region, Canada and the Bahamas said they would temporarily ban residents of the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan from entering.

Residents from those countries will be unable to travel to Canada for 90 days from Wednesday, the government said. Canadian citizens, permanent residents and other foreign nationals who have been in affected areas in recent weeks must quarantine for 21 days from May 30, even if they do not show symptoms, Canada’s public health agency said.

The United States banned all non-citizens who had travelled to the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days from entering the country. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended the ban to green card holders who have been in those countries in the previous 21 days.

Countries Stepping Up Screening

India has set up additional screening measures at major international airports, apart from issuing travel advisories asking its citizens to avoid visiting the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan.

Thailand has announced that visitors from the DRC and Uganda will only be allowed to enter from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, after testing negative during screening on arrival.

On Monday, Mexico’s health secretary also announced increased Ebola screening at airports.

Will These Measures Stop the Spread of the Virus?

The Bundibugyo strain is a rare, highly fatal species of the Ebola virus, which causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever. It spreads through close physical contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected or deceased person, as well as via contaminated objects. Therefore, measures limiting contact provide an effective way of containing infections.

At the national level in the DRC and Uganda, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus this week said the response included contact tracing, establishing treatment centres, and infection prevention and control.