A dangerous Ebola outbreak is spreading across East and Central Africa and health workers are racing to contain it.
On 17 May, the World Health Organisation declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, a rare variant with no vaccine or treatment.
Cases have already crossed borders into Uganda, and neighbouring countries are now mobilising to prevent wider spread.
The United States has issued a travel ban for any non-US passport holders who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days.
In response, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said that generalised travel restrictions and border closures are not the solution to disease outbreaks.
In a comment to The Guardian, Amref global CEO Dr Githinji Gitahi backed Africa CDC’s stance.
"Travel bans don’t stop viruses, they stop solidarity. The fastest way to protect everyone is to invest in outbreak control at the source, not isolate the affected. Africa needs partnership, not punishment."
Dr Githinji Gitahi said:
“Travel bans don’t stop viruses — they stop solidarity.
“The fastest way to protect everyone is to invest in outbreak control at the source, not isolate the affected. Africa needs partnership, not punishment.
“Africa CDC’s position on the U.S. travel restrictions related to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is clear and correct: public health measures must be guided by science, proportionality, and international cooperation — not fear.
“Bundibugyo Ebolavirus was identified nearly two decades ago, yet no licensed vaccines or therapeutics exist for this strain. This is not a failure of African capacity — it is a failure of global priority-setting.
“No one is safe until Africa is safe. And Africa is safer when the world invests in African health security, trusts African institutions, and works with Africa as a full partner.
“Solidarity over stigma. Investment over isolation. Science over fear.”
