Canada has extended temporary immigration and border measures affecting Uganda and neighbouring countries over concerns about the ongoing Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).The measures, initially introduced in May, have been extended by another 60 days until November 27, 2026. In a statement issued on September 28, the Canadian government said it remained concerned about the ongoing outbreak in the DRC and the risk of Ebola disease spreading to neighbouring countries, including Uganda and South Sudan.“Canada remains deeply concerned about the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the evolving risk of Ebola disease in neighbouring countries, including Uganda and South Sudan,” the statement said.The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said immigration documents would remain suspended for residents of countries classified as having a high or very high risk of Ebola, including the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan.This means people whose last country of residence at the time of their application was one of the three countries cannot travel to Canada while the measures are in force, even if they hold a previously approved visa, permit or electronic travel authorisation.The measures also apply to people who have transited through the affected countries. The extension comes more than a month after Uganda was declared free of Ebola Bundibugyo disease after completing the required 42-day monitoring period without a new confirmed case.The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa CDC announced the end of Uganda’s outbreak on August 27, after 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case following the discharge of the country’s last patient on July 16.Uganda reported 20 confirmed cases during the outbreak, including 15 imported cases linked to the DRC and five locally acquired infections. Two people died.The WHO has, however, warned that Uganda remains at risk of reintroduction because of continued transmission in neighbouring DRC and cross-border movement.The DRC outbreak remains active, with WHO reporting 5,794 confirmed cases and 2,786 deaths as of August 26. The outbreak has spread across 60 health zones in six provinces.Ugandan authorities have previously raised concerns about being grouped with the DRC under international travel restrictions, arguing that most of the country’s cases were imported from the DRC and were contained without sustained community transmission.The Canadian government’s measures are intended to reduce the possibility of Ebola entering the country. Canada says its immigration authorities will continue processing affected applications, but will not finalise them while the measures remain in force.The restrictions have also drawn criticism from public health officials and advocates who argue that broad travel measures can have economic and social consequences and may not necessarily reflect the epidemiological situation in individual countries.WHO has maintained that countries should base their response on evidence and international health regulations, while Uganda continues heightened surveillance because of the ongoing outbreak in the DRC.The post Canada extends travel restrictions on Uganda appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.