DRC imposes 21-day travel restriction after Ebola case detected in France

DRC imposes 21-day travel restriction after Ebola case detected in France

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Kinshasa said it had contacted French authorities to facilitate the tracing and monitoring of contacts who may have been exposed in the DRC and to coordinate follow-up measures in France in line with the International Health Regulations.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has imposed new travel restrictions requiring people leaving Ebola-affected areas to wait 21 days before undertaking further domestic or international travel. This is after a doctor involved in the country's latest outbreak tested positive for the virus upon arriving in France.

"The Government announces that, from now on, any person coming from areas affected by Ebola virus disease is required to observe 21 days before undertaking any further travel, whether within the national territory or internationally," said Kinshasa.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Congolese government said the infected individual was a medical professional working for the humanitarian organisation Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) and had been deployed as part of the Ebola response in Ituri Province, the epicentre of the current outbreak.

The doctor, who has extensive experience in managing Ebola outbreaks, worked at the Ebola Treatment Centre of the Evangelical Medical Centre of Rwampara in Ituri from May 22 to June 19, where he served as a critical care physician.

Authorities said he left Ituri on June 19 and travelled to Kinshasa, where he remained until June 22 before departing for France on June 23.
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According to information provided by ALIMA, the doctor showed no symptoms consistent with Ebola virus disease either when he left Bunia or during his stay in Kinshasa.
However, given his role in treating Ebola patients, he was considered to have been exposed to a potential risk of infection while carrying out his duties.

The doctor did not show any symptoms of Ebola while leaving Bunia or during his stay in Kinshasa. However, due to his role in treating Ebola patients, he was considered to have been potentially exposed to infection during his work.

Upon arrival in France, the doctor voluntarily sought medical attention because he had recently returned from the outbreak zone. Laboratory tests later confirmed that he had contracted the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.

Kinshasa said it had contacted French authorities to facilitate the tracing and monitoring of contacts who may have been exposed in the DRC and to coordinate follow-up measures in France in line with the International Health Regulations.

Under the new measures, anyone arriving from Ebola-affected areas will be required to observe 21 days before undertaking any further travel.

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