The United States has announced tighter health screening measures at airports as authorities move to prevent the spread of Ebola following a worsening outbreak in parts of Africa. The new precautions come after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) an international health emergency.
US health officials confirmed that an American working in the DRC contracted the virus after exposure linked to their duties in the country. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the individual developed symptoms over the weekend and later tested positive for Ebola. The patient is expected to be transferred to Germany for treatment.
The CDC said the United States is also arranging medical evacuation and monitoring for six additional people who may have been exposed during the outbreak response efforts in the region.
Under the new measures, passengers arriving from Uganda, the DRC and South Sudan will face enhanced health screening at airports. The CDC also announced temporary entry restrictions for non-US passport holders who have travelled to any of the three countries within the last 21 days.
The US Embassy in Kampala, Uganda, has meanwhile suspended visa services temporarily, with affected applicants reportedly informed of the development.
Although US officials insist the immediate risk to the American public remains low, health authorities say they are closely monitoring the evolving situation. The CDC said additional measures could be introduced if the outbreak worsens.
The latest Ebola strain involved in the outbreak is the Bundibugyo variant, a rare but highly contagious form of the disease for which there is currently no approved vaccine or targeted treatment. Health experts say the mortality rate for the strain ranges between 25 and 50 per cent.
Congolese authorities say at least 91 deaths linked to the outbreak are suspected so far, while around 350 possible cases have been recorded. Most of those affected are between the ages of 20 and 39, with women accounting for more than 60 per cent of reported infections.
The outbreak has also renewed scrutiny of the US government’s global health preparedness, particularly after President Donald Trump’s administration formally withdrew from the World Health Organization earlier this year and reduced funding tied to international health response programmes. Critics argue the cuts may weaken efforts to contain infectious diseases before they spread internationally.
0 Comments