Canada bans entry for foreign travelers from DRC over Ebola

The Public Health Agency of Canada announced a temporary entry ban that takes effect at 11:59 p.m. EDT on 20 July 2026. The measure bars all foreign nationals who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the previous 21 days from entering Canada. The ban also applies to travelers who have been in Uganda or South Sudan in the same period. Canadian citizens and permanent residents are exempt but must undergo a 21‑day quarantine on arrival if they have visited any of those three countries.

The restriction is intended to reduce the risk of importing Ebola, although the World Health Organization has warned that travel bans can stigmatise affected communities and offer limited public‑health benefit. No Ebola cases linked to travel have been reported in Canada. The DRC outbreak has produced more than 2,100 confirmed cases and 828 deaths as of mid‑July. The measures remain in force until 29 August 2026 and will be reviewed as the epidemic evolves.