The deadliest outbreak on record of the Ebola virus has prompted some countries to respond with travel bans, in an attempt to curb the spread of the deadly virus. The World Health Organization has recommended against any general ban on travel or trade with the West African countries that have been affected by the epidemic. The three countries most affected by the virus are Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. There were a small number of cases in both Senegal and Nigeria, but the WHO declared Senegal Ebola-free on October 18 and declared Nigeria Ebola-free on October 20.
What follows is a list of travel bans imposed by various countries:
Zambia, August 9: Bans travelers from countries affected by the Ebola virus
Kenya, August 16: Bans travelers from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
South Africa, August 21: Restricts entry for non-citizens traveling from Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone; restrictions could be waived for "absolutely essential travel."
Gabon, August. 22: Restricting issuance of entry visas to travelers from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria on case-by-case basis.
Rwanda, August 22: Bans travelers who have visited Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone in prior 22 days.
Senegal, August 22: Bans flights to and from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. It also shut its southern land border with Guinea.
Ivory Coast, August 23: Closed land borders with Guinea and Liberia. Borders reopened in early October.
Seychelles, August 26: Bans travelers who have visited Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo "for any length of time." Also bans Seychelles nationals from traveling to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Nigeria or Democratic Republic of Congo, unless permitted by Public Health Commissioner.
Guyana, September 9: Stops issuing visas to citizens of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Ban not announced until Oct. 16.
Haiti, October 3: Bans volunteers from departing for African countries hit by the Ebola virus; issued after United Nations said it was recruiting volunteers to respond to the Ebola outbreak. It also bans entry to travelers who have been in Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone over the previous 28 days. Those who have visited the four countries more than 28 days before seeking to enter Haiti must present a government-certified health certificate and the results of a blood test for Ebola upon arrival.
Mauritius, October 8: Bans travelers who have visited Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal and Democratic Republic of Congo in the previous two months. Bans on Senegal and Nigeria lifted Oct. 10 and 17, respectively, provided no new cases of Ebola.
Colombia, October 14: Denies entry to travelers who have visited Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria in past four weeks.
St. Kitts and Nevis, October 15: Bans visitors from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Travelers who have visited the three countries in the previous 21 days will also be banned.
Jamaica, October 16: Bans foreigners arriving from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone and bans foreigners who have visited any of the four countries within four weeks prior to arrival in Jamaica. Jamaicans who have visited those countries will be quarantined for 28 days.
Antigua and Barbuda, October 17: Bans nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and bans entry to anyone who has been in those countries in the past 21 days.
Belize, October 18: Stops issuing visas to nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria. Sierra Leone nationals, who do not need visa to enter Belize, are also banned. Anyone who visits one of these four countries in past 30 days will also be denied entry.
Dominican Republic, October 21: Bans entry to foreigners who have visited countries where the World Health Organization has declared an Ebola alert in the last 30 days.
Suriname, October 21: Bans non-Surinamers who have visited Sierra Leone, Guinea or Liberia in the previous 21 days.
St. Lucia, October 22: Nationals from Sierra Leone and Guinea banned from entering.
North Korea, Oct. 23: Bans entry to foreigners on tourist trips due to worries over the spread of Ebola.
Cape Verde: Bans travels by non-resident foreigners who have been in Sierra Leone, Guinea or Liberia in the past 30 days.
Equatorial Guinea: Denies entry to travelers whose trips originated in countries affected by Ebola.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Ban visitors from Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone
Australia, October 28: Stops processing humanitarian and immigration visas from West African nations affected by the Ebola outbreak. All non-permanent or temporary visas were being cancelled and permanent visa holders who had not yet arrived in Australia will be required to submit to a 21-day quarantine period.
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