The United States has announced tougher travel measures for people leaving the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), saying some passengers could be temporarily barred from boarding flights to help reduce the risk of Ebola entering the country.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to introduce a ‘Do Not Board’ process for certain travellers departing the DRC. The measure could apply to American citizens following public health assessments before they leave the country.
Under the new arrangements, travellers identified through health screening may not be allowed to board commercial flights to the United States.
Those affected would only be permitted to travel after spending 21 days outside the DRC, which reflects the recognised incubation period for the Ebola virus.
The CDC said the measure is designed to lower the likelihood of the disease being imported into the United States.
It added that health officials will assess passengers individually before deciding whether to request a “Do Not Board” order from the Department of Homeland Security.
The Department of Homeland Security also confirmed the policy in a statement published on its official social media account.
According to the CDC, the restrictions are not automatic. Instead, departing travellers will undergo public health screening, with authorities deciding on a case-by-case basis whether travel should be delayed.
Non-US nationals who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo are already subject to restrictions preventing travel to the United States.
The move comes as health authorities continue to battle a serious Ebola outbreak in the central African nation. More than 2,000 confirmed and probable infections have been recorded, while at least 754 people have died from the disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the actual scale of the outbreak could be significantly higher than official figures indicate, suggesting the true number of infections may be between two and four times greater.
Congolese health officials said the outbreak has now spread across five provinces, raising concerns about wider transmission despite ongoing containment efforts.
The current outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
However, the WHO said the first clinical trial of an experimental antiviral medicine began this week, offering hope that new treatment options could emerge if the study proves successful.
Health authorities continue to urge close monitoring of the outbreak while international agencies work with the Congolese government to strengthen surveillance, improve patient care and limit further spread of the virus.
