JUBA — South Sudan has recorded no confirmed cases of Ebola, the Ministry of Health said, calling on countries to lift travel restrictions imposed over fears of the highly contagious disease.
The ministry’s Undersecretary, Dr Oromo Francis, said authorities have intensified precautionary measures in response to outbreaks reported in neighbouring countries, adding that all samples tested so far have returned negative results.
“South Sudan has not recorded any confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease. To date, the national laboratory has tested seven suspected samples, and all have tested negative for the virus,” Dr Oromo said.
He emphasised that the ongoing public health measures are preventive and should not be interpreted as evidence of Ebola transmission within the country.
“Our current activities are strictly precautionary and should not be interpreted as evidence of active Ebola transmission within South Sudan,” he added.
Health authorities have stepped up disease surveillance, strengthened laboratory capacity, deployed rapid response teams, and expanded screening at major entry points due to increased cross-border movement within the region.
South Sudan is also working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations agencies, neighbouring countries, and regional health institutions to monitor developments and prevent any possible spread of the virus.
Dr Oromo called on foreign governments and diplomatic missions to reconsider travel and visa restrictions imposed on South Sudanese citizens, arguing that the country has not recorded any Ebola cases.
“We strongly urge countries of the world and their diplomatic missions in the Republic of South Sudan to lift visas and travel restrictions to all citizens of South Sudan since we have not detected any cases in the country,” he said.
The ministry said it would continue monitoring the regional situation and provide regular updates as part of ongoing efforts to protect the population from the disease.
The renewed alert follows outbreaks of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, prompting several countries to introduce temporary travel restrictions.
According to the World Health Organization, the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported hundreds of suspected Ebola cases and deaths since authorities declared the outbreak on May 15. Uganda has also confirmed several cases, including at least one death.
In response, several countries have imposed temporary travel restrictions. Canada, the United States, the Bahamas, and Bahrain announced measures affecting travellers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.
Canadian authorities said residents from the affected countries would face temporary entry restrictions, while Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and other eligible travellers returning from affected areas may be required to undergo a 21-day quarantine period.
The Bahamian government also introduced temporary entry restrictions, saying the measures would remain in place for 30 days pending a review by health authorities.
The United States similarly announced restrictions on non-citizens who had travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days. The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention later extended the measures to include permanent residents who had recently visited the affected countries.
South Sudanese health authorities maintain that the country remains Ebola-free and say continued vigilance, surveillance, and regional cooperation remain essential to preventing the virus from crossing its borders.
