Canada temporarily bars foreign nationals who visited Congo amid Ebola risk

Canada is implementing a temporary entry ban on foreign nationals who have traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo within the past 21 days, as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of Ebola.

The Public Health Agency of Canada announced the new rule, which takes effect Monday at 11:59 p.m. Commercial and private air carriers will be instructed not to allow foreign nationals with recent DRC travel history to board flights bound for Canada. The agency stated this measure aims to reduce public health risks for Canadians and enhance the effectiveness of border controls for all travelers, including returning humanitarian workers.

This decision marks a shift from Canada's previous measures in May, which mandated a 21-day self-isolation period for travelers from Ebola-affected regions like the DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda. The current prohibition specifically targets foreign nationals, while Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indigenous individuals returning from these areas will still be permitted entry. However, they will be subject to health assessments upon arrival and required to self-isolate for 21 days.

Government officials noted that approximately 350 individuals from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan travel to Canada weekly, with most arriving in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Homeland Security have also imposed similar entry bans on foreign travelers from these regions, as has Mexico. The current Ebola outbreak has recorded over 2,181 cases and 864 deaths. The new entry restrictions and previous measures are set to remain in place until August 29.

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Limiting entry of foreign nationals who have been in the the DRC in the previous 21 days may reduce public health risks for Canadians and is intended to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of border measures that can safely process travelers arriving in Canada, including our returning humanitarian workers.