U.S. bans travel from three African countries as Ebola outbreak spreads

"The U.S. on Monday announced new travel restrictions on visitors from three African nationsUganda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which are at the center of an ongoing outbreak of Ebola virus that is believed to have killed at least 100 people. The ban, which doesn't apply to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, will remain in place for 30 days."

"At least six Americans are known to have been exposed to the virus in the DRC; one of these people developed symptoms and has been evacuated to Germany, according to U.S. officials. In an order signed by acting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) head Jay Bhattacharya, the agency says the ban aims to minimize the potential for spillover into the U.S. and to buy officials time to assess the threat of the outbreak, which the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday declared a global health emergency."

"While there have been just a dozen or so confirmed infections, hundreds more are suspected. The U.S. will also step up health screening, and the CDC will try to contact trace anyone who may have entered the country in recent weeks that could have had any exposure to Ebola. The risk to the general public remains low, the agency said in a press conference on Monday."

The U.S. announced new travel restrictions on visitors from Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where an Ebola outbreak has killed at least 100 people. The ban does not apply to U.S. citizens or permanent residents and will last 30 days. At least six Americans are believed to have been exposed in the DRC, and one person who developed symptoms was evacuated to Germany. The CDC order states the ban is intended to minimize potential spillover into the U.S. and to provide time to assess the threat after the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency. The U.S. will increase health screening and conduct contact tracing for anyone who may have entered the country recently. The CDC said the risk to the general public remains low.

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