Rwanda Introduces Ebola Screening for Travelers from US, Spain
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File photo. Blend Images/Thinkstock(KIGALI, Rwanda) — In a turning of tables on Ebola monitoring, the East African nation of Rwanda is screening all visitors from the United States and Spain for the deadly virus.
The U.S. Embassy in Rwanda posted the following notice on its website Tuesday:
“On October 19, the Rwandan Ministry of Health introduced new Ebola Virus Disease screening requirements. Visitors who have been in the United States or Spain during the last 22 days are now required to report their medical condition — regardless of whether they are experiencing symptoms of Ebola — by telephone by dialing 114 between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. for the duration of their visit to Rwanda (if less than 21 days), or for the first 21 days of their visit to Rwanda. Rwandan authorities continue to deny entry to visitors who traveled to Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, or Sierra Leone within the past 22 days.”
The incubation period of Ebola is generally accepted by health officials as 21 days.
The notice appears to be in response to recent cases in both countries. In addition to the three people diagnosed with the deadly virus in Dallas, an additional five patients transported from West Africa have received treatment for Ebola on American soil. Spain has seen three cases, according to health officials.
Meanwhile, a rally cry to close American borders to travelers from Ebola-stricken countries appears to have hit home. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced travel restrictions Tuesday in the form of additional screening and protective measures.
Beginning Wednesday, all travelers to the Unites States whose travel originates in Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea — the countries hardest hit by the ongoing Ebola outbreak — will be required to fly into one of the five U.S. airports that have the enhanced screening and additional resources in place: JFK International Airport in New York, Newark International Airport in New Jersey, Dulles International Airport outside Washington, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta and O’Hare Internal Airport in Chicago.
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