The U.S. government has implemented enhanced Ebola screening measures for travelers arriving from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, amid a growing outbreak in Africa. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is collaborating with airlines to identify potential exposures, following over 130 deaths and nearly 600 suspected cases in the region.
Congo Team Faces Isolation Requirements
The Congolese national soccer team must isolate for 21 days before entering the U.S. for the World Cup, according to Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup. The team, currently training in Belgium, has been instructed to maintain a strict bubble to avoid jeopardizing their travel plans. "We've been very clear to Congo that they should maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can then come to Houston on June 11," Giuliani told ESPN. The CDC is monitoring two American doctors exposed to Ebola in Europe and has discussed sending staff to Belgium to check on the Congolese team.
U.S. Travel Restrictions Expanded
The U.S. has rerouted American passengers flying from Ebola-affected countries to specific entry points, including Washington Dulles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, with over 800 suspected cases and more than 180 deaths. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reserved the right to deny entry to permanent residents and bar most others from affected regions.
Political and Health Responses
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has criticized the response efforts of the CDC and WHO. Meanwhile, the U.S. has emphasized the need for strict isolation protocols to prevent the spread of Ebola, particularly ahead of the World Cup. The outbreak in Congo involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has already claimed more than 130 lives.