According to Reuters report on July 14th, as the Ebola outbreak continues to spread within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the U.S. government will introduce a restriction measure: American citizens residing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be prohibited from flying commercial flights back home immediately.
White House officials stated that this order will be implemented based on the transportation management authority provided by Title 49 of the United States Code. U.S. citizens who are within Congo or have recently left Congo will be included in a “boarding ban” list by the Trump administration. They must stay in a third country for at least 21 days before they can board flights to the United States.
According to reports, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kenyatta stated when signing the order on the 13th that the risk of Ebola virus spread is increasing, with the virus having reached areas just hours' drive from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
An American official revealed that more than twenty American citizens who recently visited Congo (Kinshasa) were originally scheduled to return home by plane on the 14th local time. Now they must wait, and the U.S. Department of State will provide support for these citizens and others affected.
June 15th, in Bunia, Eastern Congo, at the Ebola Treatment Center of Bunia General Reference Hospital, a doctor wearing protective gear. IC photo
Public information shows that Ebola is a serious and often fatal human disease. There are three different viruses known to cause large-scale Ebola outbreaks: Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and Bundibjoko virus. The average mortality rate for Ebola is about 50%. In previous outbreaks, the mortality rate ranged from 25% to 90%.
The incubation period for the disease, or the time from infection to the appearance of symptoms, is between 2 and 21 days. Symptoms of Ebola may appear suddenly, including fever, fatigue, discomfort, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. Subsequently, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rashes, and damage to kidney and liver function may occur. Effects on the central nervous system can lead to confusion, irritability, and aggression.
This outbreak occurs in the Ebola epidemic areas of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. This is the 17th Ebola outbreak in the country since the virus was discovered in Congo (DRC) in 1976. Since the declaration of the Ebola outbreak on May 15, the cases reported in Congo (DRC) have mainly been in Ituri Province, North Kivu Province, and South Kivu Province.
However, the Congolese public health authorities stated in their latest report that the Ebola outbreak has spread to the northeastern provinces of Haut-Mali and Boepos. Data released on the local time of the 12th evening showed that the total number of confirmed Ebola cases across the Congo has risen to 1,926, including 702 deaths.
In May of this year, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that an American doctor was infected with the Ebola virus in Congo (DR Congo) and was sent to Germany for treatment. Last week, the US CDC reported that an American citizen working for a humanitarian organization in Congo (DR Congo) was also diagnosed with Ebola virus infection.
