Canada bars foreign travelers over Ebola outbreak

What the report says

RT reported that Canada is introducing temporary entry restrictions on foreign nationals who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, citing an Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain. According to the report, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced the measure on Sunday, with enforcement beginning at 11:59 p.m. on Monday. It applies to non-citizens who were in DR Congo within the previous 21 days, and airlines have been instructed not to board affected travelers on flights to Canada.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents will still be allowed to return from DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan, RT reported, but they must undergo health checks and complete a 21-day quarantine. The report said Canada had already suspended immigration documents for residents of the three countries in May after outbreaks were declared in DR Congo and Uganda. PHAC reportedly said the latest rules will remain in effect until August 29, while also describing the risk to Canadians as low and noting that Canada has not reported travel-linked cases.

The measure is notable because the World Health Organization has cautioned against travel bans directed at DR Congo, warning that restrictions and stigma can discourage people from seeking care and complicate outbreak control. RT cited DR Congo’s Health Ministry as reporting 2,344 confirmed infections and at least 930 deaths as of Saturday, while Uganda had recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths.

Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials. RT also noted that there is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, though Oxford University has begun an early-stage human trial of a potential vaccine candidate.