New restrictions for tourists due to the epidemic. Three countries on the list
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an entry ban for travelers returning from three countries. The reason was the outbreak of the Ebola virus.
People arriving from the United States from three African countries will not be allowed to enter the country. The list of restrictions includes South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda, which is becoming increasingly popular among tourists. The reason for the restrictions introduced is the outbreak of the Ebola virus epidemic, which WHO has described as a “public health emergency of international concern”.
Ebola in Africa. The US introduces an entry ban
People who have been in South Sudan, Uganda or the DRC in the last 21 days will not be allowed to enter the US. There is an ongoing outbreak of a rare strain of Ebola virus called Bundibugyo virus in these three African countries. There is no effective vaccine or cure for it.
The decision to restrict travel was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even though the immediate risk to the general U.S. public is assessed to be low. Some exceptions have also been introduced to the new rules, including: military and government personnel returning to the country. According to the BBC, the US also intends to organize special transport for a small group of Americans from the Democratic Republic of Congo and provide them with safe quarantine facilities.
The disease is spreading rapidly
The first information about the spreading disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo appeared on Friday, May 15. At that time, 65 deaths and 246 confirmed cases were reported. Already on Saturday, the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 336 suspected cases and 87 deaths. The first case was also confirmed in Uganda that day. According to the latest information, the number of deaths is already over 130 only in the DRC.
Symptoms of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus may appear as soon as two days after contact with an infected person. The first symptoms usually resemble severe flu (high fever, muscle pain, chills), and after a few days they also include gastrointestinal symptoms. In severe cases, Ebola becomes hemorrhagic.
