Taiwan extends entry limits for DRC residents over Ebola

Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) Taiwan will extend entry restrictions on residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for another 90 days until Nov. 28, with limited exceptions, to reduce the risk of Ebola being imported into the country, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Friday.

Under the restrictions, DRC residents are not permitted to enter Taiwan even with valid visas, while the issuance of new visas to them will also remain suspended, the CDC announced.

Exceptions apply to four groups: students admitted to degree programs, diplomatic or official visitors, non-Taiwanese spouses or children of Taiwanese citizens, and people with emergency or humanitarian needs, such as attending funerals or visiting critically ill relatives, the CDC added.

DRC health officials have said the current Ebola outbreak is spreading at the fastest rate recorded in the country's history and has caused more than 2,000 deaths.

On Friday, Taiwan's CDC cited World Health Organization (WHO) data from Aug. 16 showing that the DRC had recorded 5,021 Ebola cases and 2,378 deaths, for a case fatality rate of 47 percent.

Ebola has spread to neighboring Uganda, prompting Taiwan's initial 90-day entry ban on residents of both countries effective June 2.

Taiwan began implementing several border control measures in May, including hospitalizing people entering or returning to Taiwan who had recently traveled to the DRC or Uganda and showed symptoms of Ebola.

Those who had traveled to the two African countries but showed no symptoms were asked to undergo 21 days of self-monitoring and were offered free testing at airports.

According to Taiwan's CDC, five people who entered Taiwan from the DRC and 38 from Uganda had voluntarily participated in Taiwan's self-monitoring measures as of Thursday.

Of the 43 people, 10 voluntarily underwent free testing and all tested negative.

Regarding Uganda, the CDC said if the country reports no new cases by Aug. 27, Taiwan will lift its entry restrictions on Ugandan residents on Aug. 28.

The CDC said the WHO reported 20 confirmed Ebola cases in Uganda, but the country has reported no additional cases since June 21.

Uganda has also reported no clusters of community transmission and began a 42-day national monitoring period following the July 16 discharge of the last documented case, the CDC said.

The monitoring period is scheduled to end Aug. 27.