International News: Canada to temporarily bar foreign travelers recently in Congo over Ebola concerns

By Zoila Palma:  The Canadian government announced Sunday that it will temporarily deny entry to foreign nationals who have been in the Democratic Republic of Congo within the previous 21 days as part of new border measures aimed at reducing the risk of Ebola entering the country.

The restrictions, which take effect on July 20 at 11:59 p.m. EDT, come despite the World Health Organization’s recommendation against imposing travel or trade restrictions on Congo, where officials continue to battle a major Ebola outbreak, Reuters report.

Canada’s Public Health Agency said the temporary measure is intended to protect public health, although it acknowledged that the risk of Ebola spreading to Canadians remains low.

The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned that travel restrictions can stigmatize affected communities and complicate efforts to control outbreaks.

The agency maintains that Ebola is spread primarily through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person and estimates the risk of international transmission from Congo remains low. As of July 15, Congo had recorded more than 2,100 Ebola cases, including 828 deaths.

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