US issues urgent travel warning as deadly Ebola outbreak spreads overseas

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WHO issues warning after deadly Ebola outbreak

The CDC is coordinating the ‘safe withdrawal’ of at least six Americans exposed to a deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo after the WHO declared a global health emergency.

U.S.officials are warning Americans not to visit a Central African nation, home to the world’s second-largest rainforest, amid a deadly Ebola outbreak.

The U.S.State Department raised itstravel advisoryfor the Democratic Republic of the Congo from Level 3 to Level 4 on Sunday.

The advisory emphasizes Congo’s Ituri Province, which is located in the northeast region, though Ebola cases have also been reported in Goma and the capital city of Kinshasa.

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Officials said the outbreak was caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, a rarer variant for whichexisting vaccinesmay be less effective.

As of Monday, Congo’s Health Cluster reported over 390 suspected cases and 105 deaths in Congo, according to the Associated Press.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, home to the world’s second-largest rainforest after the Amazon, is facing a deadly Ebola outbreak that has prompted new U.S.travel warnings.(iStock)

The State Department warns that Ebola is a “rare, severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever illness.”

The viruscan spread through direct contact with infected individuals, bodily fluids, infected corpses and objects contaminated with the virus.

“The U.S.government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S.citizens in Ituri province,” the advisory noted.“Do not travel to this area for any reason.”

“The U.S.embassy has extremely limited ability to provide routine or emergency consular services outside of Kinshasa.”

Though the outbreak appears to be the main cause of the advisory escalation, officials are also warning Americans aboutcrime and civil unrestin the country.

Aerial view of Congolese capital city of Kinshasa

U.S.officials warned Americans that travel outside Kinshasa, pictured above, requires special permission because of ongoing safety concerns.(iStock)

“The local health infrastructure is inadequate.Health services, hygiene and quality control do not meet U.S.standards of care.Pharmacies are not well-regulated.Locally availablemedicationsmay be unsafe,” the advisory noted.

“Local police do not always inform the U.S.embassy when they arrest a U.S.citizen.”

“Local police do not always inform the U.S.embassy when they arrest a U.S.citizen.They may also delay access to detained U.S.citizens or use violence and threats during interrogations.”

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While not a mainstreamtourist destination, Congo attracts adventure travelers drawn to its volcanoes, rainforests and rare mountain gorillas.

The country is known for the Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest rainforest after the Amazon.