Canada’s Ebola-related border measures take effect

Canada’s temporary Ebola-related border measures have officially taken effect.

As previously reported, the measures, outlined by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) last week, came into force at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday (May 30) and will stay in effect until Aug. 29, 2026.

It impacts people who have travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. Under the Quarantine Act, a mandatory self-isolation period of 21 days applies to anyone who has travelled to those countries.

Canadian officials also announced that, beginning June 3, final decisions on immigration and travel applications from individuals in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan will be temporarily suspended for 90 days.

The pause could be extended or lifted depending on how the Ebola outbreak develops.

The temporary restrictions are intended to help prevent Ebola from being imported into Canada and limit any potential spread, though PHAC maintains that the overall risk to Canadians remains low. Canada, for the records, has never had an Ebola case.

As reported by the Canadian Press, PHAC says temporarily blocking entry for people coming from Ebola-affected countries is necessary to reduce the risk of importing the disease, despite the World Health Organization’s recommendation against travel restrictions.

“While the health risk to Canadians from Ebola disease remains low, we are putting forward a precautionary approach to ensure the safety and security of Canadians ... particularly in the context of the FIFA World Cup,” a spokesperson told the news outlet.

Last Thursday (May 28), Canada, the United States and Mexico issued a statement saying they have “aligned public health travel measures for individuals coming from African regions at greatest risk from the Ebola virus.”

“This co-ordinated approach aims to protect our citizens and the millions of visitors, fans, athletes, and tourists expected during the FIFA World Cup 2026, while maintaining travel and commerce across our borders,” the statement reads.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe are expected to travel to Toronto and Vancouver for the games in June and July.

However, some Canadian infectious disease specialists agree with the World Health Organization, arguing that the restrictions are unlikely to be an effective tool for preventing Ebola cases in Canada.

Health-care workers are working to contain an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus, a rare form of Ebola, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A small number of Ebola cases have been reported in neighbouring Uganda, which closed its border on Wednesday in response. South Sudan has not reported any cases, though it borders both affected countries.

Unlike another more common strain of Ebola virus, there is no vaccine or treatment for Bundibugyo virus.

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