Any person who has been in a province affected by the Ebola outbreak will only be allowed to travel abroad after spending three weeks outside the outbreak area, Congo’s Ministry of Health said in a public health order dated June 24.
Those people will also be restricted from traveling inside Congo.
“This measure aims to strengthen public health mechanisms, reduce the risks of spread, and ensure rigorous follow-up of potentially exposed persons,” Congo’s Ministry of Communication and Media said in a statement. “The Government remains fully mobilized to protect the population and preserve public health.”
Congo is also implementing enhanced health checks at all entry and exit points and a form that travelers must complete before flying internationally.
An Ebola outbreak detected in May has been raging in Congo. The number of confirmed deaths and cases has been rising rapidly in recent days. Those figures are up to 1,118 and 291, respectively, as of June 23, according to the ministry.
Another 122 people have recovered.
The male patient was isolated and transferred to a secure area in a hospital, and is in stable condition, authorities said.
His contacts were being identified so they could isolate at home for 21 days.
The Alliance for International Medical Action said that the doctor works with the humanitarian group and that it was working to understand how he had contracted Ebola.
Ebola, which causes symptoms such as fever and unexplained bleeding, spreads through contact with bodily fluids from infected animals and humans.
French officials have recommended citizens avoid outbreak areas, but have not imposed any restrictions against traveling to or from those parts.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Thursday that he spoke with France’s minister of health and was assured France is not imposing any travel restrictions.
Some other countries, such as the United States, have prohibited certain people from flying into their nations from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. Uganda has confirmed Ebola cases and deaths. South Sudan has not confirmed any cases or deaths.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said this week that after the first confirmed imported case of Ebola in Europe, European Union states should be prepared for additional cases.
The organization said that the risk of sustained transmission in Europe is “very low” and that measures to detect cases early and isolate and treat patients are in place.