An Ebola outbreak was declared in several districts of Uganda by the country’s Ministry of Health. As a result, the US announced on 6 October it would start screening travellers coming from the African state for the disease.
As of October 6, at 11:59 p.m. ET, all U.S.-bound passengers who have been in Uganda in the 21 days prior to their arrival are routed to one of the following designated airports: New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), or Washington (IAD) for enhanced screening. Out of an abundance of caution, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will apply new layers of screening at these five US airports in response to the Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
The enhanced screening applies to all passengers, including US citizens, lawful permanent residents, and visa holders, including Diplomatic and Official visas, announced the US Embassy in Uganda in a statement.
The CDC warns that this outbreak has been linked to the Sudan ebolavirus, for which no vaccines or therapeutics have been approved for prevention or treatment.
Although the risk of Ebola in the United States is currently considered low, as cases have, so far, only been confirmed in Uganda and no suspected, probable or confirmed cases of Ebola have been reported in the US, the CDC warns travellers to avoid contact with sick people and avoid contact with blood or body fluids from all people. Travellers are also advised to avoid contact with dead bodies, including participating in funeral or burial rituals.
Moreover, people coming from Uganda should isolate immediately and seek medical care if they develop signs and symptoms, such as fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhoea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain or unexplained bleeding or bruising during or for up to 21 days after travel.
