Ebola outbreak triggers global travel restrictions as countries race to contain spread

Governments across the world are tightening border controls, suspending flights and introducing emergency health screening measures following the outbreak of a rare and fast spreading strain of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Uganda.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has already raised alarm within the international health community after the World Health Organization (WHO) reported about 900 suspected cases and 220 suspected deaths in the DRC since authorities officially declared the outbreak on May 15. Uganda has confirmed five cases and one death linked to the virus.

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The WHO last week raised its national risk assessment for the DRC from high to very high, warning that delayed detection of the outbreak had allowed the virus to spread rapidly across several health zones.

“We are urgently scaling up operations, but at the moment, the epidemic is outpacing us,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, said this week.

Despite the growing concern, the UN health agency continues to assess the global risk level as low.

Still, governments across Africa, North America, the Middle East and Asia have moved quickly to prevent the virus from crossing borders.

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In the DRC, authorities suspended all flights to and from Bunia in the country’s east, one of the worst affected health zones. Humanitarian, medical and emergency flights may still operate with special clearance.

Uganda has also imposed temporary restrictions on movement between the two countries. Direct flights have been halted, while cross border movement by bus and boat has been suspended for four weeks. Weekly markets in border districts have also been stopped, although freight movement and essential supplies remain exempt.

Outside the region, the United States, Canada and the Bahamas have introduced temporary travel restrictions targeting travellers from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan.

The US government last week barred non citizens who had recently travelled to the affected countries from entering America. The restrictions were later expanded to include green card holders who had been in those countries within the previous 21 days.

American citizens returning from affected areas have been instructed to arrive only through selected airports equipped with enhanced Ebola screening systems, including Washington Dulles International Airport, Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

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The Wall Street Journal also reported that Donald Trump, United States president, is considering deploying American public health officers to Kenya to help establish a quarantine facility for exposed or infected US citizens in East Africa.

Canada announced a 90 day suspension on entry for residents of the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan beginning this week. Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning from affected regions will also face mandatory 21 day quarantine measures even if they show no symptoms.

The Bahamas imposed similar restrictions for an initial 30 day period, while Jordan and Bahrain suspended entry for travellers arriving from the affected countries earlier this month.

No Ebola cases have yet been reported in any of those countries.

In Asia, India has stepped up screening procedures at major international airports and advised its citizens against non essential travel to the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan.

New Delhi also postponed an India Africa summit scheduled for this week and cancelled a planned meeting of the International Big Cat Alliance, a conservation grouping that includes several African countries.

Thailand announced that travellers arriving from the DRC and Uganda would only be permitted entry through Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where they will undergo mandatory health screening and testing on arrival.

The rapid international response reflects growing concern over the spread of the Bundibugyo strain, a less common form of Ebola that has historically recorded lower fatality rates than the Zaire strain but remains highly dangerous.

At the same time, international aviation authorities and the United Nations have urged governments to avoid unnecessary panic or blanket travel shutdowns.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said international air travel remains safe and advised countries to focus on exit screening in affected nations rather than broad entry restrictions elsewhere.

“Exit screening can be implemented in affected countries for all persons at international airports for unexplained illness associated with fever and consistent with other symptoms,” the organisation said in a statement.

Health officials say efforts to contain the outbreak currently focus on contact tracing, treatment centres and infection prevention measures.

“But we know this virus, and we know how to stop it,” Tedros said. “We have stopped every previous Ebola outbreak, and we will stop this one too.”