By Ahmed Aboulenein and Susan Heavey
WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) – The United States is suspending entry of some travelers for 30 days to reduce the risk of Ebola spread as international concerns rise over a new outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.S. CDC said on Monday, even as it told Americans the immediate risk was low.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order suspending the entry of travelers who have departed from, or were present in, the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan during the past 21 days, regardless of their country of origin, it said in a statement.
The order comes as medical personnel rushed to the front lines of the outbreak in eastern DRC after the World Health Organization declared it a public health emergency over concern the disease could spread further after two cases were confirmed in neighboring Uganda. The outbreak is suspected to have killed around 80 people in recent weeks.
The measures will not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, members of the U.S. military, government personnel overseas, their spouses, and children, according to the order, which is in effect for 30 days.
Other exemptions include individuals who customs officers determine should be excepted from the order, and non-citizens who it would apply to but are approved to enter by the Department of Homeland Security.
“The risk of Bundibugyo (Ebola) virus disease introduction into the United States is heightened by the virus’ incubation period, which can extend up to 21 days, allowing infected individuals to travel internationally while asymptomatic and therefore unlikely to be detected through routine symptom-based screening measures,” the CDC said.
It issued the order under Title 42, a section of U.S. public health law that grants federal health authorities the power to prohibit migrants from entering the country to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.
The agency said it would also screen and monitor travelers arriving from areas affected by Ebola outbreaks in the region and ramp up contact tracing, laboratory testing capacity and hospital readiness nationwide. It will also coordinate with airlines and port-of-entry officials to identify and manage travelers who may have been exposed to the virus.
The CDC will continue to deploy personnel to support outbreak containment efforts in affected regions, it said.
“At this time, CDC assesses the immediate risk to the general U.S. public as low, but we will continue to evaluate the evolving situation and may adjust public health measures as additional information becomes available,” it said.
(Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein and Susan Heavey; Editing by Katharine Jackson, Michelle Nichols and Bill Berkrot)
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