WASHINGTON – The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has announced fresh travel restrictions affecting travellers from South Sudan, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo amid growing concerns over the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the region.
In a statement released through its official website on Monday in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies, the CDC said the new measures are intended to “protect the health and safety of the American public in response to ongoing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks.”
The agency said the restrictions are being implemented under Sections 362 and 365 of the U.S. Public Health Service Act, adding that the order takes immediate effect and will remain in force for 30 days.
“CDC is implementing targeted public health measures intended to reduce the risk of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus (EVD) by preventing its introduction into the United States,” the statement said.
Under the new directives, “entry restrictions on non-US passport holders” will apply “if they have been in Uganda, DRC, or South Sudan in the previous 21 days.”
The CDC further announced that it will “enhance public health screening and traveller monitoring for individuals arriving from areas affected by Ebola outbreaks in the region.”
The move effectively places South Sudan among countries under heightened U.S. health surveillance at a time when regional authorities are struggling to contain cross-border transmission risks linked to the deadly virus.
According to the statement, American authorities will also “coordinate with airlines, international partners, and port-of-entry officials to identify and manage travellers who may have been exposed to the Ebola virus.”
Additional measures outlined by the CDC include expanding contact tracing operations, increasing laboratory testing capacity, strengthening hospital preparedness nationwide, and continuing the deployment of CDC personnel to affected regions to support outbreak containment efforts.
The agency stressed that the restrictions are based on “current epidemiological evidence, ongoing risk assessments, and the highly serious nature of EVD.”
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, referenced in the statement, is one of several known variants of the Ebola virus and has previously caused outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa. Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain, weakness, and unexplained bleeding.
Despite the stricter controls, the CDC said it still considers the immediate threat to the American public to be limited.
“At this time, CDC assesses the immediate risk to the general U.S. public as low, but we will continue to evaluate the evolving situation and may adjust public health measures as additional information becomes available,” the statement added.
The agency urged travellers who recently visited affected countries to remain vigilant and monitor official health notices.
“If you have travelled through the affected countries, you are encouraged to monitor CDC travel health notices and seek medical attention immediately if you develop symptoms consistent with Ebola,” the statement said.
The CDC specifically warned travellers to seek urgent medical care if symptoms such as “fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding” appear within 21 days of travel to affected areas.
The announcement, which comes after the World Health Organization declared Ebola a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”, is likely to raise concern among travellers and South Sudanese nationals planning trips to the United States, particularly as regional movement between South Sudan, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains frequent for trade, business, and humanitarian activities.
