Canada bans entry for recent travelers from DRC amid Ebola outbreak

Canada announced a temporary ban on most foreign nationals who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within the previous 21 days. The measure takes effect at 11:59 p.m. EDT on 20 July and is enforced under an interim Aeronautics Act order that requires airlines to refuse boarding for affected travellers. Canadian citizens, permanent residents and persons registered under the Indian Act are exempt and may return, but they must undergo a health assessment and a 21‑day quarantine. The same health checks apply to travellers who have recently been in Uganda or South Sudan. Canadian officials said the risk of Ebola transmission to Canada remains low and no travel‑related cases have been reported. The new restriction builds on earlier temporary measures that targeted three African nations and is described as an “abundance of caution” to protect public health while allowing humanitarian workers to continue their duties.