A local responder dons protective equipment inside a secured Ebola treatment and isolation area in Mongbwalu, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Tuesday.Michel Lunanga/Getty Images
The federal government says it is committing $8-million in international assistance in response to the expanding Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and increasing risks in Uganda and South Sudan.
Global Affairs Canada said $3.5-million will be allotted to the World Health Organization, the UN’s lead agency for health crises, through a contingency fund for emergencies.
As well, the department said the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention will receive $2-million in response to an appeal to accelerate surveillance and to support biosecurity measures.
Other agencies, including the Canadian Red Cross, Oxfam-Québec and World Vision Canada, will receive the rest of the funding to aid in their efforts in the affected region.
Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State for International Development, said that Ebola is a devastating disease that does not respect borders.
“When outbreaks occur, the response must be swift and well co-ordinated to protect as many lives as possible,” he said.
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The federal government’s announcement is taking place at a time when there is growing concern about the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. The International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian agency providing aid in the Ebola zone, warned this week that the outbreak could become the deadliest Ebola epidemic on record.
On Thursday, Canada, the United States and Mexico issued a trilateral statement to say that the countries 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 said. “The health and safety of every person in the region remains our highest priority as we welcome the world to North America.”
The World Health Organization, which declared the current Ebola outbreak a public-health emergency of international concern, has cautioned countries from closing borders or placing restrictions on travel and trade.
It says these measures are usually implemented out of fear, not science, and can damage economies, hinder the delivery of essential aid and push people into informal border crossings that are not monitored, accelerating the spread of disease.
Ottawa to halt processing of visitor applications for three African countries over Ebola concerns
Earlier this week, Ottawa announced a number of travel restrictions, including temporarily suspending all visitor applications from residents of the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, including permanent and temporary resident visas.
As well, Ottawa said it is introducing new screening measures under the Quarantine Act for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and foreign nationals who have been in the DRC and Uganda in the past 21 days.
The rules, set to take effect on Sunday, will see travellers undergo a health assessment upon arriving in Canada. Travellers with symptoms will be transferred to a hospital for further assessment and all others must provide a plan for self-isolation for 21 days.
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel and Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab noted the need for the measures to be in place for 90 days during the World Cup, set to be held in Toronto and Vancouver, as well as locations across the U.S. and Mexico, from June 11 to July 19.
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. issued an order that temporarily prohibited non-U.S. citizens who were in the DRC, South Sudan or Uganda in the past 21 days from entering the country.