Bahamas imposes travel ban on visitors from three African countries over Ebola concerns

The Government of the Bahamas has announced a 30-day ban on travellers who have recently visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan amid heightened international concern over the spread of Ebola.

The government said the restriction takes immediate effect and is being implemented as a precautionary public health measure aimed at protecting residents and visitors.

“The decision has been taken as a precautionary public measure guided by the responsibility of the government to protect residents, visitors and the wider community,” officials said in a statement.

Authorities said the measure will remain in place for 30 days but could be reviewed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness depending on developments in the global health situation.

The announcement comes days after Bahamian health authorities confirmed that two foreign nationals who recently travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo had been placed in isolation after presenting with fevers.

Officials later said the symptoms subsided and that the men were not displaying signs consistent with Ebola Virus Disease.

“At this time, they do not present with any symptoms consistent with Ebola Virus Disease,” the ministry said, while stressing that there are currently no confirmed Ebola cases in The Bahamas.

Health Minister Michael Darville said the two individuals remain in isolation while testing continues.

“All of the necessary testing is taking place and once that is complete, we will notify the media,” Darville said, adding that both men were doing well.

Ebola is a rare but often fatal disease caused by viruses belonging to the Orthoebolavirus group. Symptoms can include fever, severe headaches, fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain, with severe cases potentially leading to internal and external bleeding.

The Bahamas joins a growing number of countries tightening border health measures and travel screening protocols as global concern increases over the possibility of cross-border transmission linked to outbreaks in parts of Africa.