Canada, Bahamas ban African residents from entering countries over Ebola outbreak

Canada and the Bahamas have announced temporary entry restrictions on residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan following renewed fears over the spread of Ebola.

Canadian government, on Tuesday, said the 90-day ban would take effect on Wednesday as part of measures aimed at preventing the virus from entering the country.

The government noted that the restrictions were necessary to reduce the risk of a possible outbreak within Canada.

In a similar move, the Bahamas introduced a 30-day travel restriction effective immediately, with officials saying the measure would be reviewed by the country’s health ministry at the end of the period.

The actions come after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola circulating in DR Congo and Uganda poses a “very high” risk of escalating into a wider outbreak.

The global health body has also declared the situation a public health emergency of international concern.

Nigeria on high alert as Ebola spreads in East, Central Africa

The United States had earlier imposed related restrictions, barring non-citizens who recently travelled to the three affected African nations from entering the country.

Canada’s public health agency added that citizens, permanent residents, and other approved travellers arriving from affected regions without symptoms would undergo a mandatory 21-day quarantine from May 30.

The Bahamas government also announced tighter health monitoring procedures, including enhanced screening and possible quarantine requirements for travellers who had visited the affected countries within 30 days before entering the Caribbean nation.

Health officials in Canada, the Bahamas, and the United States have confirmed that no Ebola cases have so far been detected in their countries.