Ebola Outbreaks Confirmed in Three African Nations; Canada, Bahamas Impose Travel Bans

Canada and the Bahamas announced temporary travel restrictions on Tuesday targeting residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. The Canadian government said residents of the three countries will be barred from entering for 90 days beginning Wednesday. Officials stated the measure is intended to limit the risk of Ebola entering the country.

The Bahamas said its entry ban took effect immediately and will last 30 days, subject to review by the health ministry. The government also introduced enhanced health screenings and possible quarantines for any foreigners who visited the three countries within 30 days of arrival.

Canadian citizens, permanent residents and other foreign nationals who have been in the affected areas recently and show no symptoms must quarantine for 21 days beginning May 30, according to a statement from Canada’s public health agency.

The World Health Organization raised the risk of the Bundibugyo strain becoming a national outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to “very high” on Friday and declared the outbreaks in Congo and Uganda an emergency of international concern.

Last week the United States implemented a similar ban on non-citizens who had traveled to the three countries in recent weeks. The diocese directed St. Theresa Mission Hospital to strengthen early detection, public education and isolation readiness.

No cases of Ebola have been reported in the United States, Canada or the Bahamas. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo there are approximately 105 confirmed cases and over 900 suspected cases, while Uganda has about ten confirmed cases.