World Health Organisation chief warns countries against travel restrictions due to Ebola

Says travel bans could discourage transparency in reporting as confirmed cases climb to 134

Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday urged countries, which have imposed travel restrictions. closed their borders followingthe outbreak of Ebolain the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, to reconsider the measures.

Canada andthe UShave imposed travel restrictions and visa suspensions for residents from Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, citing the outbreak.

Rwanda and Uganda have limited travel from Congo. The two countries share borders with Congo.

Foreign nationals who have travelled through Congo in the last 30 days are not allowed entry into Rwanda.

Read:Worsening Ebola outbreak

Addressing a news conference in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. theepicentre of the outbreak, Tedros said unity and solidarity are the best weapons of protection against the Ebola epidemic, while travel restrictions could discourage transparency in reporting cases.

He urged local communities to remain at the center of the response to theBundibugyo strain of Ebola. for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists.

“We are not here to tell people what to do. We are here to listen,” he said. “Communities understand their own challenges and their own solutions. Our role is to support you in implementing those solutions, together,” he said.

Read More:Pakistan tightens airport screening after WHO declares Ebola outbreak global emergency

At least134 confirmed cases have been reportedin the current outbreak in the Congo. Uganda, according to an update released Friday by the WHO.

Deaths from Ebolastand at 18 among the confirmed cases in the two countries.

Congolese health authorities indicate. new suspected cases continue to be registered with a cumulative number of more than 1,000 recorded since the outbreak was declared May 15.

The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is concentrated in three eastern Congolese provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.

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