US imposes travel restrictions against Ebola, first infected American identified

In response to the rapidly evolving Ebola outbreak, the Trump administration imposed a ban on entry into the United States on foreign travelers who have been to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days, according to a new order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The move comes as an international Christian aid group confirmed that one of its members, an American doctor working in the outbreak zone, was among those infected with the Ebola virus. The Serge organization said Peter Stafford, a doctor who had worked at a hospital in Bunia in northeastern DRC since 2023, tested positive for the Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus. Two other doctors working for the association, including Stafford’s wife, were also exposed to infected patients.

Stafford is transferred to Germany for treatment. His family, including his four children, are also transferred there for observation, as well as the other doctor working for the association at Nyankunde hospital, all asymptomatic.

The relocations are “to ensure that they receive optimal care or observation,” Satish Pillai, who manages the CDC’s Ebola response, told reporters Monday. He added that efforts were being made to ensure that treatments, including ones, were available to contain the spread of the virus.

“We are working across the agency to ensure appropriate treatments are available, including post-exposure prophylaxis,” he said. The CDC said the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority is also “studying” the two monoclonal antibodies that have been studied in non-human primates to prevent or treat the Bundibugyo variant.

During the Ebola outbreak, a number of Americans in Congo were reportedly exposed to suspected cases

The travel order, aimed at preventing the introduction of Ebola cases into the United States, applies to anyone who has traveled to these countries in recent weeks, regardless of their original nationality, except for U.S. citizens and members of the military, as well as anyone specifically exempted from the ban by the Department of Homeland Security.

The order, signed by Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health and a top CDC official, is in effect for 30 days.

This is the first time the United States has imposed a travel ban in response to an Ebola outbreak.

In the past, authorities have relied on a containment strategy that included increased screening of travelers at ports of entry, as was the case during the 2018-2019 Ebola outbreak during President Trump’s first term. At the time, the CDC was coordinating a combination of exit screenings of personnel leaving affected areas and additional screenings at airports.

During the 2014-2015 West Africa outbreak, before he was elected, Trump called for a travel ban that would also apply to Americans in affected regions, an approach that was later criticized by Tom Price, whom Trump tapped to be his health secretary and who said letting international health care workers return to the United States was “not just our responsibility…it’s a moral action that needs to be taken.”

But Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease specialist who has worked on Ebola outbreaks and has worked for the World Health Organization, said travel bans don’t stop the spread of viruses and can actually hamper efforts to contain them.

WHO declares Ebola outbreak an international public health emergency

“We saw repeatedly during the 2014 H1N1, Covid-19, mpox and Ebola outbreaks that widespread travel bans do little to stop the spread of disease once an outbreak is already underway,” she told STAT.

“In many cases, these policies can actually make outbreaks harder to control by disrupting the movement of health workers and supplies, fueling stigma, and incentivizing people to avoid authorities or take unofficial routes to circumvent restrictions. Viruses exploit weak public health systems, not commercial airline schedules.”

Cases of Ebola have been reported in the DRC and Uganda, although the order identifies South Sudan as being at risk of spread given its proximity to the affected countries.

Although stopping travel from the affected region would reduce the number of high-risk travelers entering the United States, it would not eliminate the risks posed by the presence of these travelers in major transit centers, the order states. The incubation period for the virus can be up to 21 days, and potential patients could expose other travelers in other global centers.

The order takes effect immediately, but has a 30-day comment period to inform future actions.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos