WHO Africa warns against blanket travel bans, border closures in Ebola response

WHO Africa warns against blanket travel bans, border closures in Ebola response

WHO Africa warns against blanket travel bans, border closures in Ebola response

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The warning comes as some countries in affected and neighbouring regions have introduced precautionary measures in response to recent Ebola outbreaks

The World Health Organisation’s Regional Office for Africa has cautioned against the use of blanket travel bans and widespread border closures in response to Ebola outbreaks, warning that such measures may undermine rather than strengthen outbreak control efforts.
Speaking during a virtual meeting with regional health stakeholders, a WHO official said that indiscriminate movement restrictions could have unintended consequences by pushing cross-border travel into informal and unmonitored routes. This, the official noted, would make it harder to screen travellers, trace contacts, and detect new cases early, ultimately weakening disease surveillance systems.
The official emphasised that Ebola is not an airborne disease and therefore does not require extreme containment measures such as blanket travel bans or full border closures. Instead, the focus should remain on targeted and evidence-based public health interventions that directly address transmission risks.

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These measures, the WHO said, include strengthening surveillance at official points of entry, improving rapid detection and isolation of suspected cases, enhancing contact tracing capacity, and ensuring that health workers are well equipped to respond quickly to alerts. The agency also underscored the importance of community engagement and clear risk communication to counter misinformation and encourage early reporting of symptoms.
The warning comes as some countries in affected and neighbouring regions have introduced precautionary measures in response to recent Ebola outbreaks, including increased border screening, tighter monitoring of cross-border movement, and, in some cases, temporary restrictions on travel from high-risk areas. Health authorities have also heightened surveillance at airports and land crossings to detect possible imported cases.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended all flights to and from Bunia in eastern DRC in an effort to contain the Ebola outbreak. The Bunia health zone is among 11 affected areas, though humanitarian, medical, and emergency flights may still operate under strict approval.

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Uganda has also introduced movement restrictions, including suspending direct flights to and from the DRC, halting bus and boat border crossings for four weeks, and pausing weekly cross-border markets in affected districts, while allowing essential freight and food supplies to continue.
Outside the region, several countries have imposed entry restrictions on travellers from Ebola-affected states. Canada and the Bahamas have announced temporary bans on nationals from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, along with quarantine requirements for recent travellers from high-risk areas. The United States has tightened entry controls, including restrictions on recent travellers and designated airports for enhanced screening of returning citizens. Jordan and Bahrain have also temporarily restricted entry from affected countries, despite no reported Ebola cases.
Other countries, including India, Thailand, and Mexico, have focused on enhanced airport screening and travel advisories rather than full travel bans.
Health authorities continue to emphasise that targeted surveillance, early detection, and coordinated response remain more effective than blanket travel restrictions in controlling Ebola outbreaks.
However, the WHO cautioned that while vigilance is necessary, overly restrictive measures can disrupt the essential movement of people, goods, and health services and may discourage individuals from seeking care or reporting symptoms. The agency reiterated that coordinated regional cooperation and science-based strategies remain the most effective approach to controlling Ebola outbreaks, particularly in areas with porous borders and high levels of cross-border trade and mobility.
Officials further urged countries to align their response measures with international health regulations and to prioritise targeted interventions that strengthen preparedness without creating barriers that could worsen the spread of the disease.

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