As Ebola cases rise, Americans returning from DRC must enter US via Washington Dulles airport
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the flight restriction was to ensure Ebola spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo does not reach the US.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- US implements enhanced Ebola screenings at Dulles, diverting flights and suspending entry for non-Americans from DRC/South Sudan to protect its citizens.
- The Ebola outbreak in DRC has caused 139 deaths and over 600 suspected cases; WHO declared it a public health emergency.
- An Air France flight was diverted due to a DRC passenger; Ebola has spread to Uganda, and the Bundibugyo strain lacks a vaccine.
AI generated
WASHINGTON - As Ebola cases rise in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Americans who have been in that country, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last three weeks must only return to the US through Washington Dulles airport for enhanced screening, the State Department said May 21.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are applying enhanced public health screening at Dulles in response to the Ebola outbreak.
An Air France flight from Paris to Detroit on May 20 was ordered diverted to Montreal after a passenger from the DRC boarded “in error,” CBP said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on May 21 the diversion was to ensure Ebola does not reach the US.
“We had a flight last night headed to Detroit that was diverted because we have to protect the American people. So, objective number one is to make sure that Ebola never reaches the United States. Objective number two is do what we can to help the people of DRC and neighbouring countries so it doesn’t spread.”
The CDC on May 18 said it was suspending entry of travellers who have been in the DRC and South Sudan within the prior weeks of arrival in the United States to reduce the risk of Ebola spread.
The ban does not apply to Americans or lawful permanent residents.
In 2014, the US required travellers returning from three African countries over Ebola concerns to arrive at one of five US airports with enhanced screening, including Dulles, New York JFK, Chicago O’Hare and Atlanta.
A case of Ebola has been confirmed in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu province - hundreds of kilometres from the outbreak’s epicentre - the rebel alliance that controls the area said on May 21.
The outbreak has been linked to 139 deaths, with 600 suspected cases reported in Ituri and North Kivu provinces as of May 20, according to the World Health Organisation.
Two cases have also been confirmed in neighbouring Uganda.
The WHO declared the outbreak of the virus’ Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no vaccine, a public health emergency of international concern over the weekend.
Ugandan Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi told Reuters the US was “overreacting” by banning most travellers from Uganda, along with DRC and South Sudan, earlier this week. REUTERS
