Ebola: WHO boss against blanket travel ban

Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, talks to Ugandan medical workers and journalists during his visit at the Mulago National Referral Hospital Isolation Unit, as aid agencies intensify efforts to contain a new Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo Virus, in Mulago suburb, of Kampala, Uganda June 8, 2026. PHOTO/REUTERS

The leadership of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on foreign countries to end blanket travel bans on nations facing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks, saying the measures are ineffective in fighting the epidemic, but have severe effects on these economies.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general, made the remarks on Monday during his tour of the Ebola isolation and treatment centre in Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala.

“There are some travel restrictions by some countries. Of course, a few countries; the majority are okay. But blanket travel restrictions are wrong. Uganda is reporting transparently. So, blanket travel restrictions actually undermine transparency. We have been asking the international community not to do this,” he said.

Dr Tedros appealed to the countries which have banned travellers from affected countries (Uganda and DR Congo) to reconsider their position. Some of the countries which have announced travel bans or restrictions against Uganda include the USA, UAE and Canada.

“This (travel ban) affects the economy and the livelihoods of the country. When the country is transparent, doing its job, and also has experience in stopping Ebola, I think the return cannot be travel restrictions,” Dr Tedros observed.

This appeal from the WHO boss comes a few days after the Permanent Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine, criticised the international community over the blanket travel ban, saying she feels Uganda is being punished because of the transparency in reporting cases.

Ugandan workers collect rubber gumboots from the airing line during a visit by the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Mulago National Referral Hospital Isolation Unit, as aid agencies intensify efforts to contain a new Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo Virus, in Mulago suburb, of Kampala, Uganda June 8, 2026. PHOTO/REUTERS

International health regulations require countries to declare outbreaks of dangerous pathogens like Ebola and Marburg.

“We feel that Uganda have been a victim of transparency. The more we communicate, the more we are blocked and locked out, the more our citizens are