Federal health authorities announced new protective measures Monday designed to minimize Ebola transmission risks in America following reports of a fresh outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while emphasizing that Americans face minimal immediate danger.
According to CDC officials, travelers who have visited or departed from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan within the previous 21 days will undergo screening and monitoring procedures.
The new protocols will exempt U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents, the CDC stated in announcing the order, which remains active for 30 days.
“The risk of Bundibugyo virus disease introduction into the United States is heightened by the virus’s 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.
Federal authorities will additionally enhance contact tracing efforts, expand laboratory testing capabilities and strengthen hospital preparedness across the nation, officials added.
The CDC’s announcement follows the deployment of medical teams to combat the outbreak in eastern DRC after the World Health Organization issued a public health emergency declaration, expressing concerns about potential spread following two confirmed cases in neighboring Uganda.
