The United States has launched a coordinated diplomatic and public health response to an Ebola outbreak affecting parts of Central and East Africa, while simultaneously tightening travel guidance for Americans in the region.
The Department of State established an interagency coordination cell in Washington within 24 hours of learning of confirmed Ebola cases linked to the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. Officials said U.S. embassies in the DRC, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda have activated monitoring teams to follow developments and stay in contact with American citizens in affected areas.
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Within 48 hours, the department allocated an initial $13 million in foreign assistance to support efforts to contain and respond to the outbreak. The funding is directed toward surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, risk communication, border screening, clinical case management and safe burial operations. Officials also noted that additional bilateral funding and humanitarian assistance are being prepared as the scope of the outbreak continues to be assessed.
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The United States is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. military on containment measures. These efforts include implementing travel restrictions and preparing for potential repatriation of Americans who may have been exposed or require medical assistance abroad.
As part of its response, the State Department raised travel advisories for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda to Level 4, the highest warning category, advising Americans not to travel due to the Ebola Bundibugyo virus outbreak and associated health risks. Rwanda was placed under a Level 3 advisory, urging travelers to reconsider travel.
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The department also stated that the CDC issued a Title 42 order on May 18th, limiting entry into the United States for foreign nationals who had been in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days.
U.S. officials emphasized that the overall response is aimed at containing the outbreak quickly while protecting the health and safety of Americans both at home and abroad.
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