Global Response Mounts as Ebola Outbreak Triggers Travel Restrictions
As the Ebola outbreak continues to spread across Africa, countries around the world are taking measures to prevent its entry. Fragomen, an immigration services provider, has reported that many nations have introduced new restrictions on travelers from affected areas.
The Indian government has launched a digital health declaration portal for international passengers arriving in India. The form asks about travel history and symptoms over the past 21 days. Airlines and private air carriers are required to deny boarding to foreign nationals who've been in Ebola-affected countries within that timeframe.
Canada has barred entry to foreign nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan unless they've spent more than 21 days outside these countries before arriving in Canada. Those showing symptoms will be isolated at a hospital for further assessment.
Many Gulf countries have also imposed entry restrictions on travelers from affected areas. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has suspended new visa issuance and restricted entry for nationals of the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. Saudi Arabia has suspended travel by its citizens to these countries and halted all visa categories for arrivals from or through affected nations.
Israel, Jordan, Thailand, the Philippines, Rwanda, Mauritius, the Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago have introduced various screening measures for travelers with recent links to Ebola-affected areas. Health authorities at airports in parts of the Middle East and Africa are also increasing screenings.