I can’t control a viral outbreak of ebola threads on the Forum, but only intend to update here – no repetition !


So Australia has announced a travel ban – and shut down an aid program in West Africa. Now Canada has followed suit, although it doesn’t have direct flight connections with West Africa, and Canadians in West Africa - including healthcare workers - WILL be allowed back to Canada !



Over 30 countries have already imposed some form of travel restrictions, including other African nations. North Korea will quarantine every foreigner for 21 days .


Of course the idea seems logical, and understandable – if selfish and hard to enforce. Prevent sick people entering your country! Either pre-entry screening with treatment if needed ( as for TB ) - or a complete ban !



Would travel bans be effective as a protective measure ? Apart from causing economic hardship, unintended consequences are uncontrolled migration from the affected countries by devious routes ( land and sea ) , almost impossible to track, with illegal immigration into other countries.


The United Nations could not enforce the international coordination needed for such a ban . Not every nation would agree to quarantine West Africa ; crippling their economy ; cutting off their humanitarian aid ; with the ebola epidemic spiralling out of control, instead of reaching a plateau and numbers of cases eventually declining.


U.N. is in fact encouraging the international community to send more healthcare teams and other resources to the three West African nations most affected. This is what they should be doing ! World Health Organization ( WHO ) may be the global health leader, but the UN has legitimacy and authority to at least try to influence member states.


Let’s also keep matters in perspective – since the epidemic started seven months ago FAR more have died in this region from malaria ( treatable ) and basic hunger.



The countries now fighting ebola are among the poorest in the world with inadequate health infrastructure. At last - forty years after discovery of ebola - there’s a reasonable chance of containment through effective resources, vaccines, and treatments, thanks to international awareness ( if not panic ) .