US slams travel ban on Ebola-hit nations

KAMPALA — The United States has imposed new travel restrictions on foreign nationals who have recently visited Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan as Washington intensifies efforts to prevent Ebola from spreading to American territory.

At the same time, U.S. authorities say they are preparing possible repatriation arrangements for affected American citizens in the region as fears grow over the outbreak’s cross-border spread. 

The measures were announced in an official statement issued by the U.S. Department of State on May 18, outlining what Washington described as a “comprehensive response” to the Ebola outbreak currently affecting parts of Central and East Africa. 

The outbreak has already triggered heightened surveillance and emergency coordination across several countries, including Uganda, where health authorities have intensified screening, contact tracing and public health monitoring following confirmed cases linked to the region.

According to the State Department, the U.S. government moved quickly after learning of confirmed Ebola cases.

“Within 24 hours of learning of the confirmed cases, the Department leveraged its outbreak response and humanitarian assistance capabilities to establish an interagency coordination cell and incident management system in Washington, D.C.,” the statement said. 

The coordination system now includes U.S. embassies in Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the DRC, which have been tasked with monitoring developments and communicating directly with American citizens living or travelling in the region.

The most immediate and consequential step, however, concerns travel into the United States.

The State Department confirmed it worked closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement a May 18 Title 42 order barring entry into the United States for foreign nationals who have been in Uganda, the DRC or South Sudan within the previous 21 days. 

Title 42 refers to a U.S. public health authority that allows the government to restrict movement across borders during serious disease outbreaks in order to protect public health.

In practical terms, the order means many travellers who recently visited affected countries could temporarily be denied entry into the United States, even if they are not showing symptoms.

The State Department said the restrictions are aimed at “protecting the health of Americans at home and abroad” by containing the outbreak before it spreads further internationally. 

Washington also confirmed that discussions are underway regarding the possible evacuation or repatriation of affected U.S. citizens depending on medical assessments and exposure risks.

“We are also working closely with CDC and the U.S. military on potential repatriation of affected Americans, based on assessed exposure and health needs,” the statement said. 

Ebola is a severe viral disease spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials. Symptoms can include fever, weakness, vomiting and bleeding.

Health experts say outbreaks become especially dangerous in regions with heavy cross-border movement because infected individuals can unknowingly spread the virus before symptoms fully appear.

Uganda’s location makes it particularly vulnerable.

The country shares porous borders with eastern DRC, where insecurity and population movement frequently complicate disease surveillance and outbreak control efforts. Cross-border trade, refugee flows and family movement between communities increase the risk of regional transmission.

The United States says it has already activated emergency funding to support the outbreak response.

According to the State Department, Washington mobilised an initial $13 million within 48 hours to strengthen surveillance systems, laboratory testing, public awareness campaigns, safe burial procedures, border screening and clinical case management in affected countries. 

The statement added that additional bilateral assistance is being prepared as authorities gather more information about the scale of the outbreak.

Part of that funding builds on existing health cooperation agreements signed between the United States, Uganda and the DRC under the America First Global Health Strategy. 

Washington also announced that part of a broader $1.8 billion humanitarian package for United Nations emergency response systems will prioritise Ebola-related support in Uganda and the DRC.

“Our May 14 announcement of $1.8 billion in additional funding for OCHA pooled funds includes $250 million in funding for the DRC and Uganda,” the statement noted. 
The funding will support humanitarian operations and outbreak containment efforts coordinated through the United Nations and international partners.

For Uganda, the developments underline how rapidly local health crises can become international security and travel concerns.

They also highlight the growing global pressure on countries to strengthen disease surveillance, emergency response systems and cross-border health coordination before outbreaks escalate into wider regional emergencies.