Trump administration bars US citizens in Congo from returning home amid Ebola outbreak
The measure blocks approximately two dozen Americans from direct flights, drawing criticism from health experts who argue restrictions hinder transparency and aid efforts.
The Trump administration has placed US citizens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on a “do-not-board” list, preventing their direct return to the United States amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak. The order, issued under Title 49 transportation authority, mandates that affected individuals spend 21 days in a third country before being permitted to travel to the US. This directive was first reported by Reuters late on Monday and independently confirmed by Politico on Tuesday.
The immediate impact of the measure has been significant for travellers already in the region. Approximately two dozen Americans who were scheduled to depart on Tuesday have been blocked from boarding flights home. It remains unclear whether the travel bar extends to US government workers, including at least two dozen employees from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently operating in the DRC.
Health experts and the World Health Organization have strongly criticised the restrictions. They argue that such measures historically hinder transparency, damage local economies, create stigma, and impede humanitarian aid. The WHO noted that Ebola does not spread easily through casual contact or like respiratory viruses, transmitting primarily via contact with bodily fluids from people who are actively sick or recently deceased.
Despite the travel restrictions, the US maintains an elite network of medical facilities capable of safely isolating Ebola patients. In previous outbreaks, the US repatriated eight cases for high-level care without any transmission of the virus. The CDC states that “do-not-board” lists are intended to bar travellers who are known or suspected to have a contagious disease, rather than simply anyone who has been in a country with an outbreak.
Meanwhile, the WHO warned that the outbreak is spreading out of control, with funding shortfalls and undetected transmission contributing to a situation that may be two to four times larger than reported case counts. As of July 14, the DRC reported 1,963 cases and 719 deaths. The agency has less than half the funding it needs to properly respond, following the US withdrawal from the organisation.
