The U.S. government is expanding efforts to detect the Ebola virus as an outbreak in central Africa intensifies.
Last week, the CDC temporarily banned foreign nationals from entering the country if they have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the last 21 days. U.S. citizens and residents who have recently been in the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan were required to enter the U.S. via Washington Dulles, where enhanced Ebola screenings are now taking place.
On Friday, customs officials said passengers traveling from the three designated countries will also be routed to Atlanta and Houston Bush. Enhanced screenings started early Saturday at Atlanta and will come online early Wednesday at Houston.
Over 1,000 confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in northeast Congo, with a much smaller number in neighboring Uganda. At least 234 people have died. The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization on May 16.
So far, no cases have been reported in the U.S., though some American medical staff and aid workers are in quarantine after being exposed to the virus in the Congo.
The resurgence of Ebola – which has a fatality rate between 20% and 90%, depending on the strain – could complicate travel for the FIFA World Cup, which will commence next month. Over one million international visitors are expected to attend matches in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Over the weekend, the White House instructed Congo’s soccer team to isolate in Belgium, where they are currently training.
