Key facts
- The U.S. has formally requested European nations impose travel restrictions from Ebola-affected Central African countries.
- This request aims to prevent the spread of Ebola during the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
- The U.S. previously implemented its own travel ban for individuals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.
- The State Department stressed the importance of both financial contributions and travel restrictions to combat the outbreak.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed the Ebola response.
The Trump administration has formally requested that European nations implement travel restrictions from Central African countries affected by an Ebola outbreak. This diplomatic push, detailed in a demarche issued on June 1, aims to prevent the virus from spreading globally, particularly with the upcoming FIFA World Cup drawing millions of visitors. The U.S. itself has already barred non-citizens who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan from entering the country. A State Department official stressed that global cooperation, including financial contributions and common-sense travel restrictions, is crucial to protecting citizens. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed the Ebola response, with the U.S. highlighting its significant financial and material contributions to the affected regions.