Canada bans foreign nationals who visited Congo in past 21 days as Ebola outbreak spreads

Canada is barring foreign nationals who visited the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past 21 days, effective Monday at 11:59 p.m., in its latest effort to prevent Ebola from entering and spreading in the country.

The Public Health Agency of Canada made the announcement Sunday. Commercial and private air carriers will be required to not permit foreign nationals who visited the DRC to board a flight to Canada.

"Limiting entry of foreign nationals who have been in the DRC in the previous 21 days may reduce public health risks for Canadians and is intended to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of border measures that can safely process travelers arriving in Canada, including our returning humanitarian workers," the agency said.

The decision marks a shift from the government's previous measures in May, which required travellers from Ebola-affected regions to self-isolate for 21 days. That requirement also applied to South Sudan and Uganda. The new measure announced Sunday does not include travel bans from either country.

Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and persons registered under the Indian Act entering Canada who visited the DRC, South Sudan or Uganda within the past 21 days will still be allowed to enter. They will receive a health assessment on arrival and be required to self-isolate for 21 days.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Homeland Security imposed a U.S. entry ban on May 22 on foreign travellers who have been in Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the past 21 days. Mexico also issued a travel ban to the affected areas on May 17.

So far, 2,181 cases have been recorded in the Ebola outbreak, with 864 deaths. The new rules, along with those put in place in May, will remain in effect until August 29.