The Canadian government said on Sunday it would deny entry to any foreigner who has been to Congo within the past 21 days as part of new, temporary border measures to combat the spread of Ebola.
The ban contravenes advice from the World Health Organization, which advises against travel or trade restrictions with Congo, where officials are currently struggling to contain a large outbreak of Ebola. The UN health agency says travel restrictions create stigma and can make epidemics harder to control.
Unfair suspicion of people from affected regions
“People from affected regions and African communities have faced unfair suspicion,” WHO said in a statement last month. “The spread of Ebola is not determined by nationality or ethnicity.” WHO estimates that the risk of Congo’s Ebola outbreak spreading internationally is low.
Ebola is mostly spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of someone infected with the disease. As of July 15, Congo had reported more than 2,100 Ebola cases including 828 deaths.
In a statement on Sunday, Canada’s Public Health Agency said “limiting entry of foreign nationals who have been in (Congo) in the previous 21 days may reduce public health risks for Canadians.”
Measures take effect July 20
The measures take effect on Monday, July 20, at 11:59 p.m. EDT, the Public Health Agency of Canada said in a statement. Canada previously suspended immigration documents for residents from Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. No Ebola cases have been confirmed in South Sudan and Uganda has not reported any new cases since last month.
Mark Johnson, a spokesman for the agency, acknowledged in an email that the risk to Canadians was low. However, failure to comply with the new restrictions could result in a fine of up to CAD$150,000 for individuals and up to $1.5-million for corporations.
He said the updated measures “align some of Canada’s temporary border measures with those of the US and Mexico”.
Last week, the US introduced measures preventing Americans who had been in Congo in the previous 21 days from entering the U.S. via commercial aviation. Seven American aid workers who had been working in Congo to stop the outbreak are currently quarantining in a facility in Kenya.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has recommended against travel bans for people from Congo, saying they can disrupt humanitarian aid and have limited effectiveness.
- Canada will deny entry to foreigners who have been in Congo within the past 21 days, effective July 20, as a temporary measure to reduce Ebola risk.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) opposes travel bans, warning they create stigma and hinder epidemic control; WHO estimates low international spread risk.
- Ebola primarily spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids; Congo has reported over 2,100 cases and 828 deaths as of mid-July.
- Canada's measures align with similar restrictions by the US and Mexico, with fines up to CAD$150,000 for individuals and $1.5 million for corporations for non-compliance.
- The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control also advises against travel bans, citing disruption to humanitarian aid and limited efficacy.
"People from affected regions and African communities have faced unfair suspicion," WHO said in a statement last month. "
Ebola is mostly spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of someone infected with the disease. As of July 15,
In a statement on
Mark Johnson, a spokesman for the agency, acknowledged in an email that the risk to Canadians was low. However, failure to comply with the new restrictions could result in a fine of up to CAD$150,000 for individuals and up to $1.5-million for corporations.
He said the updated measures "align some of Canada's temporary border measures with those of the US and Mexico".
Last week, the US introduced measures preventing Americans who had been in
