On Monday, the Trump administration barred U.S. citizens from the Democratic Republic of Congo from returning home amid an Ebola outbreak that continues to overwhelm response efforts.
This was first reported by Reuters On Monday, Americans who are currently in the DRC or have recently traveled to the Ebola-affected country were placed on the “no-sit” list. They cannot return to the United States before they have spent 21 days in the third country. The order passed to the transportation authority, known as Title 49, was independent confirmed by Politico on Tuesday.
Both outlets noted that about two dozen Americans who were set to fly home on Tuesday had already been blocked by the new rule. It is not yet clear whether the bar applies to government employees. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has at least two dozen employees in the DRC.
The move comes in addition to already extremely strict and controversial travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration to avoid the incident. Health professionals continue to criticize such restrictions because they are historically unsuccessful and harmful. In particular, they discourage countries and people from being transparent about epidemics and disease risks, harming economies and creating stigma. There is also concern that such restrictions will limit humanitarian aid workers.
The threat of Ebola
Ebola is not a disease that spreads easily like respiratory viruses. It is transmitted through contact with body fluids when people are actively ill or recently deceased. It has been described as a disease of compassion because it primarily spreads to family, loved ones, caregivers, and healthcare workers who have extensive contact when they are most sick and contagious. In other words, it’s not a disease you’ll get from just sitting next to someone who’s coughing on a plane.
