The United States is stepping up measures to prevent the spread of Ebola, announcing airport screening for travelers arriving from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. Non-US passport holders from those regions within the past 21 days will also face entry restrictions.
The US Embassy in Kampala has temporarily paused all visa services. The CDC assesses the immediate risk to the general US public as low but says it will continue to evaluate the evolving situation.
President Donald Trump said he is “concerned” by the outbreak but believes it has been confined to Africa.
An American citizen tested positive for Ebola in the DRC after work-related exposure. The individual will be transferred to Germany for treatment. The US is working to evacuate six more people for health monitoring.
The State Department said it activated a response plan and mobilized $13 million for immediate foreign assistance, including surveillance, lab capacity, and safe burials.
US officials have avoided questions about how cuts to USAID have impacted containment efforts. The United States also formally withdrew from the WHO this year.
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. Most affected are aged 20 to 39, and over 60 percent are women.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said it is deploying experts to support the Ebola outbreak response.