By Jean-Pierre A.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has raised concerns following the US travel advisory for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and entry restrictions on non-US passport holders who have recently travelled to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan, describing the measures as broad.
In a statement released on 19 May, Africa CDC said it recognises the sovereignty of every government to protect the health and security of its people, adding that it does not oppose efforts aimed at protecting populations. However, the continent’s health body criticised “the use of broad travel restrictions as a primary public health tool during outbreaks.”
“Public health measures during outbreaks must be guided by science, proportionality, transparency, international cooperation, and international health regulations,” Africa CDC said.
According to Africa CDC, generalised travel restrictions and border closures are not the solution to outbreaks. “Such measures can create fear, damage economies, discourage transparency, complicate humanitarian and health operations, and divert movement toward informal and unmonitored routes,” the continental disease control body said.
Meanwhile, the US Department of State said in a media note published on 19 May that it is working with its consular and travel operations teams to implement the CDC’s Title 42 order restricting entry for foreign nationals of any nationality who have been to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days, thereby increasing travel restrictions.
Africa CDC is now appealing for global support for ongoing efforts to curb the spread of Ebola.
“The fastest path to protecting all countries in the world is to aggressively support outbreak control at the source,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC. “Global health security cannot be achieved through borders alone. It is achieved through partnership, trust, science, and rapid investment in preparedness and response capacity.”
The Department’s travel advisories for the DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda are now at Level 4 — Do Not Travel — while the travel advisory for Rwanda is at Level 3 — Reconsider Travel, according to the updated travel note.
Rwanda has also closed its border with neighbouring DRC in a bid to stop the spread of Ebola, a move criticised by the DRC government.
The US has also announced support for efforts to end the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC.
“In support of the Ebola outbreak response, the United States is funding the establishment of up to 50 treatment clinics in Ebola-affected regions of the DRC and Uganda, primarily through @UNOCHA,” the US Department’s Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom said via X, adding: “These rapidly deployed clinics are intended to strengthen outbreak containment, expand access to care, and ensure critical resources reach the most affected communities.”
Africa CDC further noted that the current Ebola outbreak highlights a deeper structural injustice in global health innovation, saying the Bundibugyo ebolavirus was identified nearly two decades ago, yet no licensed vaccines or therapeutics specific to this strain exist today.
Africa CDC stated that it believes “if this disease had predominantly threatened wealthier regions of the world, medical countermeasures would likely already be available.”
As of 19 May, more than 500 suspected cases, 30 laboratory-confirmed cases, and at least 134 deaths had been reported. The epicentre in the DRC is primarily located in Ituri province, specifically in the Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu health zones.
On Tuesday, Africa CDC deployed eight experts to Bunia to reinforce the response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
The multidisciplinary team includes field epidemiologists as well as specialists in digital health, risk communication, and community engagement.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, convened an Emergency Committee on Tuesday to discuss the latest Ebola outbreak. Today, 20 May, the WHO chief is hosting a media briefing with Committee Chair Lucille Blumberg and Vice-Chair Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele.
