Ottawa announces temporary border measures in response to Ebola outbreak

The federal government is introducing new border controls to help stop Ebola from reaching Canada as cases continue to increase in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.

Beginning this week (May 30 at 23:59 pm EDT), travellers arriving from those affected areas will be required to self-isolate for 21 days, according to a news release issued Tuesday (May 26). The measure will be in place until August 29, 2026.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is also temporarily delaying final decisions on certain immigration applications.

During a technical briefing before a news conference with the health and immigration ministers, federal officials said the new rules will take effect Saturday under the Quarantine Act.

Officials emphasized that the current risk to Canadians remains low and noted that no travel-related Ebola cases have been detected in Canada.

As of May 30, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, people registered under the Indian Act, and foreign nationals who have recently travelled to the affected countries will still be permitted to enter Canada.

However, they will be required to complete a health screening upon arrival and follow all public health requirements.

Travellers showing symptoms will be taken to a hospital for medical evaluation, while those without symptoms will need to provide a plan outlining how they will self-isolate for 21 days.

“If they do not have a place where they can quarantine safely, they will be provided with an appropriate location,” the government wrote in its release.

Those who are already in Canada are not impacted by the new measures, and may continue to stay in the country for their authorized period of stay.

As per standard procedure, these travellers were already screened upon their arrival by a Canada Border Services Agency Border Services Officers.

“Canadian citizens and permanent residents could still return to Canada and would undergo screening at ports of entry upon their arrival,” says the government.

A rare but serious disease

The World Health Organization (WHO) says Ebola is a rare but serious disease in humans that spreads through direct contact and can often be fatal.

The illness is currently spreading rapidly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where authorities declared an outbreak earlier this month. 

Reports say the outbreak in Central Africa has surpassed 1,000 suspected infections and caused hundreds of deaths, mainly in Congo, while neighbouring Uganda has so far reported seven confirmed cases.

The WHO has warned that the strain of Ebola circulating in these regions has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment, although efforts to develop them are underway.

Referring to information from the WHO, a federal official said uncertainty about the true number of infections and how widely the virus may be spreading prompted Canada to introduce the new precautions as a preventive measures, reports CTV News.

Government officials say roughly 350 travellers arrive in Canada each week from the three affected countries, with around 60 per cent of them being Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

"The health and safety of people in Canada is our top priority. These temporary border measures will help reduce the risk of Ebola disease entering the country while ensuring that travellers are managed based on their level of risk,” said Minister of Health Marjorie Michel in a statement. “We will continue to take action guided by science and evidence to protect Canadians."

While the risk to people in Canada “remains low,” the Government of Canada says it is taking a “precautionary approach” given the severity of Ebola disease and the evolving international situation, including the FIFA World Cup. 

“There has never been a case of Ebola disease imported into Canada and there are currently no cases of Ebola disease in North America,” the government said, adding that it will “monitor the situation closely” and adjust measures as needed.

Canada’s move comes after U.S. authorities temporarily barred lawful permanent residents from entering the country if they had recently travelled to Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days. 

The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention later stated that expanding the restriction to include green card holders was necessary as well.

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