Summary: Canada said it will bar residents from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan for 90 days beginning Wednesday, a move described by Ottawa as a temporary border measure to reduce the risk of Ebola entering and spreading within Canada. The Bahamas announced immediate entry restrictions for travelers from the same three countries for 30 days, subject to health ministry review, and is increasing screening and quarantine measures for recent visitors to those nations.
Both governments framed the measures as short-term public health responses to a regional Ebola outbreak. Canada specified that the 90-day ban applies to residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan and takes effect on Wednesday. In a related step, Canada’s public health agency said that Canadian citizens, permanent residents and other foreign nationals who have been in the affected areas in recent weeks and do not show symptoms will be required to quarantine for 21 days beginning May 30.
The Bahamian government said its entry restrictions are effective immediately and will remain in place for 30 days, with a scheduled review by the nation’s health ministry. The Bahamas also announced enhanced health screenings at points of entry and the possibility of quarantines for foreigners who were present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within 30 days prior to arrival in the Caribbean country.
The World Health Organization has upgraded its assessment of the Bundibugyo strain to a "very high" risk of becoming a national outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and has designated the situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as an emergency of international concern. In response to the same regional developments, the United States, last week, barred non-citizens who had traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in recent weeks from entering the country.
No cases of Ebola have been reported in the United States, Canada or the Bahamas, according to official statements accompanying these measures.
Context and operational details:
- Canada’s travel restriction is time-limited to 90 days and is explicitly described as temporary, with quarantine rules applying to those without symptoms who have recently been in the affected areas.
- The Bahamas’ restrictions are immediate, set for 30 days, and include enhanced screening and potential quarantine for recent visitors to the impacted African countries.
- International health authorities have raised the assessed risk level for the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other governments have already limited entry for travelers from the same countries.
Officials cited preventing importation and spread of Ebola as the central rationale for the measures. The timeframe and quarantine requirements are steps the respective governments are using to limit potential transmission while the outbreak and related assessments evolve.