Mexico Imposes Travel Ban on Central African Countries Over Ebola Outbreak

As the world prepares for the FIFA World Cup, Mexico has taken a precautionary measure to protect its citizens from the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa. Three major Mexican airlines, Aeromexico, Viva, and Volaris, have announced a temporary travel restriction for passengers arriving from affected countries in the region. The restriction, which will be in place for 60 days, applies to travellers who have visited Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or South Sudan within the last 21 days. According to Aeromexico, 'Entry into Mexico by air is restricted for travellers who have stayed in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or South Sudan within the last 21 days.' This measure is aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly virus, which has already claimed 17 confirmed lives and 223 suspected deaths since May 15, with 125 confirmed cases and over 900 suspected cases recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The World Health Organization has linked the current outbreak to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists. The travel restriction comes less than two weeks before the start of the FIFA World Cup, which Mexico will host alongside the United States and Canada. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the affected countries, has qualified for the tournament and is scheduled to play first-round matches in the United States and Mexico. The Congolese national team has been training in Belgium and plans to use Houston, Texas, as its base during the competition.