Travel Restrictions Imposed by Bahamas, Canada, and Thailand Due to Ebola Outbreak

The Bahamas, Canada and Thailand are imposing travel restrictions on travellers from Ebola-stricken regions, as the International Rescue Committee warns that the outbreak could worsen.

All three countries instituted restrictions Tuesday, mostly focused on the admission of travellers from regions battling the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been the epicenter of the epidemic, where the first suspected case was reported on April 24.

Since then, DRC health officials have reported more than 1 000 cases, the vast majority suspected, including ten confirmed deaths, though there are 119 suspected fatalities. Uganda has reported seven confirmed cases, including one death as of Tuesday.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on May 17.

Of the three nations, Canada was implementing the strictest restrictions, mandating that all arrivals who have visited either the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days quarantine for 21 days, starting Sunday.

Ottawa was also suspending immigration documents, including previously approved permanent and temporary resident visas, for residents of those countries for the next 90 days, starting late Wednesday.

“The health and safety of people in Canada is our top priority,” Health Minister Marjorie Michel said in a statement.

“These temporary border measures will help reduce the risk of Ebola disease entering the country while ensuring that travelers are managed based on their level of risk.”

The Bahamas restrictions include enhanced public health screenings for Bahamian nationals who have been present in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan within 21 days of their return home, its foreign ministry said in a statement. Foreign nationals may be subject to the increased screening and possible quarantine or isolation measures if they were present in those three countries within the last 30 days.

And Thailand, which declared the DRC and Uganda “dangerous communicable disease infected zones” effective May 21, imposed a mandatory 21-day quarantine for all travelers arriving from the DRC and Uganda or transiting through the two countries.

The measure is a further restriction compared to the policy imposed May 20, mandating that arrivals from outbreak areas provide the address and telephone details of where they will be staying while in the country for a 21-day monitoring period. (UPI)