Trump banned Americans infected with Ebola from the US, evacuating them to Kenya

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to spread, and continues the international effort to control the Bundibugyo virus. The outbreak was first announced on May 15 and is already the third largest. The latest numbers from the World Health Organization starting on May 24 with 1,018 cases (906 suspected, 112 confirmed) and 234 deaths (223 suspected, 11 confirmed). But this is known to be very limited in actual spread and is probably outdated by now.

The WHO and other international health organizations are calling for international support and cooperation to tackle the problem. But it seems that the US is instead choosing to try to hide itself – even from its own citizens and legal citizens.

On Friday, the Trump administration announced that it was extending his controversial travel banit now bans even legal citizens (green card holders) from entering the country if they have been to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the past 21 days. The move is in addition to an existing ban on non-US citizens with a travel history. In particular, Uganda has reported only seven people and one death in the outbreak; no cases have been reported in South Sudan.

Tuesday, Bloomberg said The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is trying to boost Ebola screening at airports. But the agency, without a director and other top leaders, has been crippled by job cuts and budget cuts, political interference, and organizational turmoil from the Trump administration. Therefore, it is difficult to find employees to display the screens at the airport. Jay Bhattacharya, Trump’s current director of the agency, sent an email to CDC staff asking them to volunteer for the task, which involves taking travelers’ temperatures and interviewing them. Volunteers can be from any salary bracket, Bhattacharya wrote in his email.

Also on Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration plans to continue banning American citizens from being repatriated if they test positive for the virus or become infected in the event of an outbreak. According to the report, the US is working to set up an isolation and relief facility in Kenya. Prior to the Ebola outbreak, citizens have been returned to the US, which Trump has opposed.