Fearing Ebola, U.S. bars citizens returning from Congo

The United States is implementing a strict measure, barring its citizens returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo from direct entry into the U.S. due to concerns over the Ebola virus. Travelers will only be permitted to enter the U.S. after completing a 21-day quarantine period in a third country.

This policy directly impacts approximately twenty American citizens who were scheduled to fly to the U.S. on Tuesday. The State Department has pledged to provide support to these affected individuals during their mandatory waiting period. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited the escalating Ebola risk as the justification for this directive.

The Ebola outbreak continues to spread within Congo, reaching areas just hours away from the capital, Kinshasa. Official figures from Sunday confirm 1,926 cases, with 702 fatalities. The virus, which often proves fatal, is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids and can cause high fever, nausea, and severe internal bleeding.

One U.S. citizen infected with the virus was transported to a university clinic in Frankfurt, Germany, for treatment on Monday. Another American doctor, after contracting the virus in Congo, also received treatment in Germany in May. The U.S. government's decision highlights the severity of the ongoing Ebola crisis and its potential to spread internationally.

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