By Kowoforola Fakeye, JKNewsMedia Reporter
GLOBAL HEALTH travel measures linked to the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa will be aligned by the United States (US), Mexico and Canada ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 as the three host nations move to protect citizens and visitors during the tournament.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the governments, in a brief joint statement issued, said the coordinated approach would apply to individuals travelling from African regions considered at greatest risk from the Ebola virus while maintaining travel and commerce across their borders.
“The health and safety of every person in the region remains our highest priority as we welcome the world to North America,” the countries said in a joint statement released on Thursday whilst they did not specify the exact measures that would be implemented.
The announcement followed the World Health Organization (WHO)’s declaration on May 17 that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo was a public health emergency of international concern.
WHO also warned that there was a high risk the outbreak could spread to neighbouring countries.
The decision prompted governments to strengthen travel related containment measures.
Last week, the US barred non-citizens who had travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in recent weeks from entering the country.
Also, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) on Friday extended the restriction to green card holders who had been in those countries within the previous 21 days.
Canada this week imposed a 90-day ban on residents from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan entering the country, saying the restriction took effect on Wednesday.
Additionally, Canada’s public health agency also said Canadian citizens, permanent residents and other foreign nationals who had recently been in affected areas and did not have symptoms would be required to quarantine for 21 days from May 30.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s Health Secretary, David Kershenovich, on Monday announced tighter Ebola screening measures at airports, urging the public to avoid traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo and asked arrivals from the country to observe a 21-day quarantine.
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