US Urges Citizens to Avoid Travel to DRC, S. Sudan, and Uganda Over Ebola Risk
The US State Department has issued its highest travel advisory for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Uganda due to a deadly Ebola outbreak.
The United States State Department has strongly advised American citizens against traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Uganda amid escalating concerns over an Ebola outbreak.
On Tuesday, the department marked these Central African nations with its most severe travel warning, labeled 'Level 4: Do Not Travel,' and also cautioned against travel to neighboring Rwanda.
This announcement came a day after US health authorities initiated enhanced airport screenings for travelers from regions affected by the outbreak and temporarily paused some visa processing activities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has emphasized that the risk of Ebola reaching the US remains low, while it continues efforts to evacuate an American doctor who contracted the virus along with six others from the DRC for monitoring.
German officials have announced their preparedness to receive the infected American doctor.
The CDC further stated that non-US passport holders who visited Uganda, the DRC, or South Sudan within the last 21 days will face restrictions on entry into the United States.
Additionally, the agency is enhancing its support to the DRC with technical experts.
No proven vaccine or treatment exists for the specific strain of Ebola causing this recent outbreak.
When questioned about how budget cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) might affect monitoring and hinder the response efforts, US officials have remained silent on the matter.
Despite these challenges, the CDC is working closely with international partners, and the State Department has mobilized $13 million in aid.
US President Donald Trump expressed concern over the outbreak but emphasized that it remains confined to Africa at present.
Over the past 50 years, Ebola has been responsible for an estimated 15,000 deaths across various strains, with a potential fatality rate as high as 90%.
On Tuesday, the department marked these Central African nations with its most severe travel warning, labeled 'Level 4: Do Not Travel,' and also cautioned against travel to neighboring Rwanda.
This announcement came a day after US health authorities initiated enhanced airport screenings for travelers from regions affected by the outbreak and temporarily paused some visa processing activities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has emphasized that the risk of Ebola reaching the US remains low, while it continues efforts to evacuate an American doctor who contracted the virus along with six others from the DRC for monitoring.
German officials have announced their preparedness to receive the infected American doctor.
The CDC further stated that non-US passport holders who visited Uganda, the DRC, or South Sudan within the last 21 days will face restrictions on entry into the United States.
Additionally, the agency is enhancing its support to the DRC with technical experts.
No proven vaccine or treatment exists for the specific strain of Ebola causing this recent outbreak.
When questioned about how budget cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) might affect monitoring and hinder the response efforts, US officials have remained silent on the matter.
Despite these challenges, the CDC is working closely with international partners, and the State Department has mobilized $13 million in aid.
US President Donald Trump expressed concern over the outbreak but emphasized that it remains confined to Africa at present.
Over the past 50 years, Ebola has been responsible for an estimated 15,000 deaths across various strains, with a potential fatality rate as high as 90%.