S. Korea to widen travel ban in Congo to 3 provinces over Ebola outbreak
Seoul, May 22
The foreign ministry said on Friday it will widen a travel ban in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to three provinces in the country amid the spread of Ebola virus disease.
Effective 2 pm Friday, South Korea will issue a Level 4 travel alert, the highest level in its four-tier travel alert system, for Ituri Province in the African country due to the continued rise in deaths linked to the virus, according to the ministry, reports Yonhap news agency.
With the latest measure, the number of no-travel zones in the Democratic Republic of Congo will expand to three provinces -- Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. South Korean nationals who visit or stay in those areas without exceptional passport-use authorisation may face punishment under the passport law, it added.
In addition, the ministry has issued a Level 3 alert recommending departure from areas within 50 kilometers of the border with the Central African Republic, as well as seven other provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including Bas-Uele and Haut-Uele.
A special travel advisory remains in place for the rest of the African nation, it added.
On Thursday, the ministry issued a special travel advisory for all of Uganda after the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency designated the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan as priority quarantine management countries for Ebola.
The ministry said it will continue monitoring the outbreak and review whether additional travel warning adjustments are necessary.
The number of Ebola infections in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has been rising rapidly, leading to more than 160 suspected deaths, according to foreign media reports.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Makes sense. Level 4 travel alert is no joke—South Korea is taking this seriously. I hope they’re also providing aid to the Congo to help control the outbreak. Global health is a shared responsibility. 🌍
While travel bans are important, we must not forget the human side. Innocent people in those regions need medical help, not just isolation. I hope the international community steps up support for Congo. 🙏
I’ve been following this outbreak. It’s worrying that deaths are rising so fast. South Korea’s alert system seems well-structured, but I wonder if these bans are enough when borders are porous. Need global coordination. 🤔
At least they’re taking action early. India learned from COVID that delays can be costly. Hope our government is also monitoring the situation and updating travel advisories. Proactive measures save lives! 🦠
Travel bans help, but we also need to support healthcare infrastructure in Congo. Without proper treatment, the virus won’t stop at borders. Kudos to South Korea for their alert system, but more global effort is needed. 🤝
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