The United States has introduced screening measures for air travelers arriving from regions affected by the ongoing Ebola outbreak, even as officials insist the risk to the American public remains low. The move comes as European health authorities deploy experts to Africa to support containment efforts.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it would screen passengers flying from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Sudan. Non-US passport holders who have visited those countries within the past 21 days will face entry restrictions. The US Embassy in Kampala has temporarily suspended all visa services.
“At this time, CDC assesses the immediate risk to the general US public as low, but we will continue to evaluate the evolving situation and may adjust public health measures as additional information becomes available,” the agency said in a statement.
President Donald Trump said he was “concerned” by the outbreak but believed it had been “confined right now to Africa.” The comments come after an American citizen tested positive for Ebola in the DRC following work-related exposure. The individual will be transferred to Germany for treatment, according to Satish Pillai, the World Health Organization (WHO) Ebola response incident manager. The US is also working to evacuate six more people for health monitoring.
European Response and Global Health Emergency
On Sunday, the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a global health emergency. At least 100 deaths have been reported, with around 400 suspected cases as of Monday. Most of those affected are aged between 20 and 39, and more than 60 percent are women.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said it would “immediately deploy” experts to the Africa CDC headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The agency is also in discussions with the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network about sending additional specialists in infection prevention, epidemiology, surveillance, and risk communication.
The US State Department activated a response plan and mobilized an initial $13 million in foreign assistance for immediate efforts, including surveillance, laboratory capacity, risk communication, safe burials, and entry and exit screening. However, US officials have avoided questions about how the administration’s cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and its withdrawal from the WHO have affected monitoring and containment. USAID, a prime target of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was responsible for administering foreign humanitarian aid worldwide.
The outbreak highlights the interconnected nature of global health security. As European medics deploy to the region, the continent’s public health agencies are coordinating closely with international partners to prevent the virus from spreading further. The situation remains fluid, with health authorities urging vigilance while emphasizing that the risk to Europe remains low for now.
