Australia is considering tightening travel restrictions as health authorities monitor a growing Ebola outbreak spreading across parts of Central Africa, with experts warning the crisis could worsen rapidly if not contained.
The outbreak is currently centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, where governments and international health agencies are scrambling to establish treatment centres, trace contacts and protect frontline health workers.
More than 500 suspected and confirmed cases have now been reported, alongside at least 116 deaths, sparking renewed global concern over the highly contagious and often deadly virus.
The United States has already moved to strengthen border controls, banning entry for non-citizens who have recently travelled through affected regions.
“There are no cases of Ebola in America. We want to keep it that way,” US health official Dr Heidi Overton said.
Among the latest confirmed patients is American doctor Peter Stafford, who was evacuated from the region alongside his wife and four children for urgent medical treatment.
Australian authorities say there is currently no immediate threat locally, but federal health officials are reviewing existing travel advice as the outbreak evolves.
Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed the government was reassessing travel guidance for Uganda and surrounding regions.
“They’ll be revising or reviewing travel advice for Uganda,” Butler said.
Infectious diseases experts have warned the outbreak may be significantly larger than official figures currently suggest.
“Unfortunately, that appears to be the tip of the iceberg, and it seems very likely there’s a lot more cases out there,” infectious diseases specialist Professor Paul Griffin said.
Unlike COVID-19, Ebola is not airborne. The virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids including blood, saliva and sweat, as well as contaminated clothing and bedding.
Symptoms typically begin with fever, headaches and muscle pain before progressing to severe vomiting, diarrhoea and internal bleeding. In many cases, the disease can lead to organ failure and death.
The World Health Organization and aid agencies are now ramping up medical support across affected areas in an effort to prevent another catastrophic outbreak similar to the West African Ebola crisis, which claimed more than 11,000 lives.
