The United States has announced new measures aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola following the worsening outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The measures, unveiled on Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include airport screening for travelers arriving from affected regions and temporary visa restrictions.
The development comes after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo an international health emergency.
During a media briefing, Satish Pillai confirmed that an American working in Congo had contracted the virus following work-related exposure.
“The person developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive late Sunday,” Pillai said.
According to him, arrangements were being made to transport the infected individual to Germany for treatment.
The CDC also disclosed that efforts were underway to evacuate six additional individuals for health monitoring.
Pillai explained that about 25 personnel are currently working in the CDC’s field office in Congo, while another senior technical coordinator is expected to join the response team.
“At this time, CDC assesses the immediate risk to the general US public as low, but we will continue to evaluate the evolving situation and may adjust public health measures as additional information becomes available,” the agency stated.
As part of the new measures, the CDC announced entry restrictions for non-US passport holders who had traveled to Uganda, Congo or South Sudan within the previous 21 days.
The United States Embassy Kampala also confirmed the temporary suspension of visa services in Uganda, noting that affected applicants had been informed.
Health authorities said there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment available for the strain responsible for the latest outbreak of the highly contagious hemorrhagic fever.
According to Congo’s Health Minister, Samuel-Roger Kamba, at least 91 deaths are suspected to be linked to the outbreak.
Authorities have also recorded around 350 suspected cases, with most infections affecting people between the ages of 20 and 39. More than 60 per cent of those affected are women.
The outbreak comes amid broader concerns over the United States’ changing approach to global health cooperation.
Earlier this year, the US under President Donald Trump formally withdrew from the World Health Organization.
US officials have also faced criticism over recent cuts affecting the United States Agency for International Development, which previously played a major role in Ebola response efforts.
Despite the concerns, CDC officials insisted they remain in close collaboration with international partners and health authorities in affected countries.
The agency said response measures would include continued deployment of CDC personnel, support for contact tracing and expanded laboratory testing.
Meanwhile, the United States Department of State announced the release of $13 million in emergency aid to support immediate outbreak response efforts.
However, Matthew Kavanagh criticised the US response, describing the travel restrictions as ineffective.
“The administration claimed it could negotiate bilateral deals and replace the capacity of WHO with domestic efforts. This outbreak clearly shows that is a failed strategy,” he said.
Kavanagh argued that previous Ebola outbreaks were better managed through coordinated efforts involving USAID, the CDC and international partners.
