The Democratic Republic of Congo imposed travel restrictions on people exposed to Ebola after France detected its first case tied to the current outbreak.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Democratic Republic of Congo has ordered a 21-day quarantine and travel restrictions for people returning from Ebola-affected areas after France reported its first case linked to the current outbreak.
The new rules apply to anyone identified as a contact of a confirmed or suspected Ebola case. Under a decree signed by Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba, those individuals must undergo 21 days of active health monitoring beginning from their last known exposure.
During the monitoring period, all travel is prohibited unless health authorities grant express authorization. The restriction applies to both domestic and international travel.
Health workers, laboratory personnel and outbreak response teams returning from affected areas are also covered by the decree. Those groups must obtain prior approval before traveling internationally.
The measures were announced after France identified its first Ebola case in the current outbreak, involving a person who had recently traveled from Congo. The case is the first identified outside Africa during the outbreak, which has also affected Uganda.
France had not previously detected Ebola within the country. During the 2014 West Africa outbreak, two patients were transported to France for treatment, but both had already been diagnosed abroad.
According to the ministry, the patient arrived in Paris on Tuesday aboard a commercial flight from Kinshasa. The patient was described as almost asymptomatic while boarding, apart from headaches.
The ministry said the doctor’s condition “slightly deteriorated during the flight.” Upon landing in Paris, the patient was immediately isolated and placed under medical care before the disease was officially identified.
The patient was reported to be in “stable condition” with a “very low” viral load, the ministry said.
Government data released Wednesday showed the outbreak had infected 1,118 people and killed 291.
Public health experts have said the risk of worldwide spread remains low because Ebola is considered relatively less contagious than airborne respiratory viruses. Ebola typically spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials.
The quarantine order reflects Congo’s effort to reduce the risk of additional travel-linked cases while allowing health authorities to monitor people with known exposure. The 21-day period aligns with the maximum incubation window commonly used for Ebola monitoring.
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