Overview:
In an October 11 notice, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the extension was necessary because of the evolving regional outbreak, particularly in eastern DRC, where containment efforts remain strained.
The United States has extended travel restrictions affecting Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan for another 30 days, citing the risk of cross-border transmission of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease despite Uganda having declared its outbreak over in July.
In an October 11 notice, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the extension was necessary because of the evolving regional outbreak, particularly in eastern DRC, where containment efforts remain strained.
The decision keeps Uganda under restrictions even though the Ministry of Health maintains that the country is free of Ebola following the successful containment of its outbreak.
The CDC said continued movement of people across the Uganda-DRC border posed a risk, particularly in western Uganda, where some travellers from neighbouring countries seek medical care.
“Although the country [Uganda] has achieved successful containment of the outbreak, continued overland travel from DRC poses an ongoing risk of cross-border transmission, particularly among healthcare workers and in western Ugandan districts that serve as points of entry for travellers seeking medical care,” the agency said.
The notice is in effect for 30 days. It specifically names Uganda, DRC and South Sudan, while Kenya, which recently reported a case linked to travel from DRC through Uganda, was not included in the latest directive.
The CDC cited the case announced by Kenya’s Ministry of Health on October 6, involving a traveller who had travelled from DRC to Uganda before flying from Kampala to Nairobi on October 2. The individual was hospitalised and died on October 5.
The agency also pointed to the continued spread of the outbreak in eastern DRC, saying response efforts had not reached the scale required to contain transmission.
Contact tracing in DRC stood at 80 percent, down from 87 percent in September and below the 95 percent operational target cited by the CDC as necessary to slow the spread of the disease.
Uganda declared its domestic Ebola outbreak over on July 28 after recording 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, alongside one probable case and one probable death.
On October 6, the Director General of Health Services, Prof Charles Olaro, reassured the public and the international community that Uganda remained free of Ebola and had maintained surveillance and preparedness measures.
“The Ministry of Health reassures the people of Uganda and the international community that Uganda remains free of Ebola and continues to maintain strong surveillance and preparedness measures to protect public health,” Prof Olaro said.
He added that the ministry was working with neighbouring countries and partners to strengthen cross-border surveillance and information sharing following the case reported in Kenya.
“The Ministry of Health is working closely with relevant authorities and partners to intensify cross-border surveillance, enhance information sharing and ensure the timely detection and management of any potential public health threats,” he said.
The latest US extension comes amid objections from African and global health authorities, who have questioned the effectiveness of blanket travel restrictions during disease outbreaks.
In August, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention director-general Dr Jean Kaseya said he had written to Washington asking it to lift restrictions on African countries, arguing that countries should not be penalised for reporting outbreaks transparently.
“We believe that it’s not time for punishment when countries are being transparent,” Dr Kaseya said, questioning why similar restrictions had not been imposed on France after an Ebola case was reported there.
The World Health Organisation’s Regional Director for Africa, Prof Mohamed Yakub Janabi, has also argued that travel restrictions and border closures lack sufficient scientific evidence as effective outbreak-control measures, urging countries to follow the International Health Regulations.
The extension leaves Uganda facing continued travel restrictions despite its declaration that the domestic outbreak has ended, highlighting the challenge of protecting public health when infections continue to cross national borders.