The Democratic Republic of Congo has tightened travel controls after France confirmed its first imported Ebola case linked to the country’s worsening outbreak.
A decree signed on June 24 by Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba requires anyone returning from Ebola-affected areas to complete 21 days of monitoring before travelling abroad. The measure applies to contacts of confirmed or suspected Ebola cases, as well as health workers, laboratory staff and response teams who have been operating in affected zones.
Under the order, anyone identified as a contact must undergo active health monitoring for 21 days from their last known exposure. During that period, domestic and international travel is banned unless health authorities grant special approval.
Health workers and Ebola response personnel returning from affected provinces must also receive clearance before international travel. More broadly, anyone who has stayed in an Ebola-hit province will only be allowed to leave the country after spending at least 21 days outside the affected area.
The new measures also require all outbound international passengers to complete a health declaration form issued by border health authorities. Airlines have been instructed to verify the forms as part of additional screening procedures.
The restrictions come after France confirmed on Wednesday that a humanitarian doctor who had travelled from Congo tested positive for Ebola. The doctor reportedly boarded a commercial flight from Kinshasa without symptoms but became ill during the journey, raising fresh concern over the risk of cross-border spread.
The outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. Congolese government data released Wednesday showed 1,118 infections and 291 deaths.