Canada, Bahamas impose Ebola travel ban as epidemic spreads in Africa

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Canada and the Bahamas said on Tuesday they will ​temporarily ban residents from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda ‌, and South Sudan amid an Ebola outbreak.

Residents from those countries will be banned from entering Canada for 90 days starting Wednesday, the Canadian government said.

It said ​the temporary border measure aimed to reduce the risk of ​Ebola entering and spreading within Canada.

An ambulance drives past an advocacy poster against the spread of the Ebola virus, in Kampala, Uganda. REUTERS

The Bahamian government added that ⁠its entry restrictions would take immediate effect and remain in place ​for a period of 30 days, subject to review by the Caribbean ​country’s health ministry.

Reuters first reported that the archipelago would impose such a travel ban.

The World Health Organization on Friday raised to “very high” the risk of the Bundibugyo strain ​of Ebola turning into a national outbreak in the Democratic Republic ​of Congo and has declared the outbreak there and in Uganda an emergency of ‌international ⁠concern.

Last week, Washington banned non-citizens who had traveled to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in recent weeks from entering the United States.

Canada and the Bahamas said on Tuesday they will ​temporarily ban residents from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda ‌, and South Sudan amid an Ebola outbreak. REUTERS
An advocacy poster against the spread of the Ebola virus is placed along the walkway at the Platinum Medical Center in Kampala, Uganda. REUTERS
AFP via Getty Images

Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and other foreign nationals who have been in affected ​areas in recent ​weeks and do ⁠not have symptoms will have to quarantine for 21 days from May 30, according to a statement from ​Canada’s public health agency.

The Bahamas also announced enhanced ​health screenings ⁠and possible quarantines for foreigners who were present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within 30 days of arriving ⁠in the ​Caribbean country.

No cases of Ebola have been ​reported in the U.S., Canada or the Bahamas.

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