Africa-Press – Namibia. Sources and officials reported that the Trump administration urged European countries to follow Washington’s lead and impose travel restrictions on individuals who have recently visited countries in Central Africa affected by the Ebola virus outbreak, aiming to prevent the virus’s spread during the World Cup.
A diplomat from the European Union based in Africa and a second source familiar with the matter stated that the United States issued an official diplomatic memo on June 1 expressing its concerns and urging European nations to implement travel restrictions related to the virus outbreak. The diplomat added that EU countries had not responded to this memo.
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States issued an order prohibiting non-citizens who had been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the past 21 days from entering the United States. Americans were instructed to pass through specific airports for screening.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the entry of the Ebola virus into the United States must be prevented, and the administration’s efforts focused on keeping anyone who may be exposed to the virus outside the country, despite having facilities equipped to treat Ebola cases while containing the virus’s spread.
An official at the State Department noted that travel restrictions, along with the United States’ commitments to fund the Ebola response, demonstrated that Washington had “intensified its efforts” to protect Americans from the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which the World Health Organization declared an international public health emergency.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States issued an order last month prohibiting non-citizens who had been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the past 21 days from entering the country.
An official, who requested anonymity, stated: “Other countries must do their part to ensure this outbreak does not spread. Action is required now, including financial contributions and reasonable travel restrictions from the affected region.”
He added: “We are diplomatically engaging with countries around the world to coordinate our efforts to protect our citizens, including the millions of visitors, fans, athletes, and tourists expected to attend the World Cup.”
The U.S. State Department stated that Rubio and the President of the European Commission discussed the Ebola outbreak response in a phone call on Tuesday.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a press release following the call: “The department’s top priority remains protecting the health of the American people and preventing the spread of the Ebola virus from reaching our country.”
The Trump administration, which faced criticism for closing the U.S. Agency for International Development and cutting aid funding before the outbreak, stated that it had provided 150 tons of medical supplies and pledged more than $200 million directly to affected countries, making it the largest financial contributor to Ebola response efforts.
The Ebola outbreak has complicated some travel plans ahead of the World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, starting Thursday.
