Ebola Outbreak: Global Travel Restrictions and Bans

The Ebola Outbreak: A Growing Concern

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.

Efforts to Contain the Virus in Affected Countries

The Congolese Ministry of Transport and Communications has suspended all flights to and from Bunia in eastern DRC in an attempt to contain the Ebola outbreak. Uganda has also introduced restrictions on travel to and from the DRC, including suspending all direct flights and halting bus and boat border crossings for four weeks.

Countries Imposing Travel Bans

Several countries have announced travel bans and temporary border measures to contain the spread of the new strain. Canada and the Bahamas have temporarily banned residents of the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan from entering. The United States has banned all non-citizens who had travelled to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the previous 21 days from entering the country.

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.

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. Measures limiting contact provide an effective way of containing infections. The WHO has urged countries to focus on exit screening for departing passengers, rather than entry screening for arrivals.