US embassy announce Ebola screening for passengers travelling from Uganda

The United States Embassy in Kampala has stated that all passengers who have been in Uganda 21 days prior to their arrival in US will have to undergo Ebola virus screening.

Through a statement, the embassy listed the various designated airports where enhanced screening would take place.

“All U.S bound passengers who have been in Uganda in the 21 days prior to their arrival will be routed to one of the following designated airports New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), or Washington (IAD) for enhanced screening,” the statement read.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will apply new layers of screening at these five U.S. airports in response to the Ebola outbreak in Uganda,” the statement added.

The embassy stated that no cases had been reported in the US following the EVD outbreak and the risk of the virus is currently low.

“To date in this outbreak, cases have only been confirmed in Uganda and no suspected, probable, or confirmed cases of Ebola have been reported in the United States, and the risk of Ebola domestically is currently low,” the statement read.

The enhanced screening applies to all passengers, including US citizens, lawful permanent residents and visa holders including diplomatic and official visas.

Passengers have been asked to prepare for flight changes or cancellations and to also contact their airline with any questions and to confirm their flight and route.

Since the Ebola Virus outbreak, Uganda has confirmed 43 cases.

The virus is transmitted through human fluids and contact with dead or living infected animals.