Government is tightening public health measures in response to an Ebola outbreak affecting parts of Africa, with new travel advisories and stricter border controls now in effect.
In a statement in the Lower House on Wednesday, the Minister of Health, Dr Lackram Bodoe, is urging nationals to avoid all travel to three African countries amid an active Ebola outbreak.
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, South Sudan. These countries are considered high-risk zones. It is to be noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared this outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.”
Citizens are also being advised to exercise extreme caution when travelling to nine additional African countries identified as high-risk by the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
“These countries are as follows: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia.”
Dr Bodoe said strict border management measures have been implemented to safeguard public health in Trinidad and Tobago.
“Citizens and residents arriving in Trinidad and Tobago who have visited or transited through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan will be subject to enhanced health screening upon arrival. Furthermore, these individuals will be subject to mandatory 21-day active monitoring protocols. Depending on the results of the initial health screening, travellers may also be subject to immediate isolation or quarantine measures as directed by Port Health authorities.”
The Health Minister is advising citizens with planned travel to affected countries to consider postponing or cancelling their trips and to continue monitoring updates from the Ministry of Health and the WHO.