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US-bound flight diverted after passenger from Congo boarded 'in error' amid Ebola travel restrictions

US-bound flight diverted after passenger from Congo boarded 'in error' amid Ebola travel restrictions
The spread of *** particular strain of the Ebola virus with no vaccine to fight it is threatening to explode. The World Health Organization says there are more than 50 confirmed infections and nearly 600 suspected cases, with close to 140 deaths suspected to be the result of the Bundi Bujo strain that's spreading in the DRC and Uganda. And the WHO believes the virus has Been spreading for months. We're several weeks behind, and when the virus takes 2 to 21 days, you know, to incubate, what it means is people have already been exposed, so we're going to continue to see more cases before it can get under control. At least one American infected, *** US doctor who'd been working in the DRC, is being treated in Berlin. Health authorities say, while six high-risk contacts of that American are. Moved to Europe for observation. The WHO, though noting global risk remains low, is concerned with the scale and speed of this Ebola outbreak, declaring *** public health emergency requiring an international response, listing five reasons the early spread, cases in several urban areas, healthcare worker deaths, area population movement, and the virus strain with no vaccine or treatments. About 17 tons of lab equipment and personnel are being dispatched from the WHO, Africa CDC, and the Congolese government. The US is also coordinating shipment of an experimental treatment to the region for potential use in Americans, according to US Health and Human Services, while the World Health Organization says it could take 6 to 9 months to develop *** vaccine specific to this strain of Ebola, Brian Abel reporting.
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Updated: 10:32 AM EDT May 21, 2026
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US-bound flight diverted after passenger from Congo boarded 'in error' amid Ebola travel restrictions
AP logo
Updated: 10:32 AM EDT May 21, 2026
Editorial Standards
An Air France flight bound for Detroit was diverted to Montreal after a passenger from Congo boarded a flight in Paris "in error" amid flight restrictions tied to the Ebola outbreak, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Thursday.A spokesperson for the agency says the passenger "should not have boarded" the plane on Wednesday due to U.S. entry restrictions put in place to reduce Ebola risk.The spokesman said in an email that officials "took decisive action and prohibited the flight carrying that traveler from landing at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and instead, diverted to Montreal, Canada."Air France said the passenger was denied entry into the U.S. due to new regulations that travelers from certain countries, including Congo, can enter only through Washington.The Department of Homeland Security also said that as of Thursday, all U.S.-bound American citizens and permanent residents who have been in Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days must only enter through Washington Dulles International Airport for enhanced screening.Canadian health officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.There is a growing Ebola outbreak linked to a rare virus. There is no available vaccine or medicine for the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the outbreak, which spread undetected for weeks following the first known death, while authorities tested for a more common Ebola virus.Healthcare workers and aid groups are struggling to respond as experts say the outbreak is much larger than what has been officially reported. Authorities have so far announced 139 suspected deaths and nearly 600 suspected cases.WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The organization's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he was "deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic" and it's likely much larger than the official case count. WHO’s chief in Congo said the outbreak could last at least two months.

An Air France flight bound for Detroit was diverted to Montreal after a passenger from Congo boarded a flight in Paris "in error" amid flight restrictions tied to the Ebola outbreak, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Thursday.

A spokesperson for the agency says the passenger "should not have boarded" the plane on Wednesday due to U.S. entry restrictions put in place to reduce Ebola risk.

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The spokesman said in an email that officials "took decisive action and prohibited the flight carrying that traveler from landing at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and instead, diverted to Montreal, Canada."

Air France said the passenger was denied entry into the U.S. due to new regulations that travelers from certain countries, including Congo, can enter only through Washington.

The Department of Homeland Security also said that as of Thursday, all U.S.-bound American citizens and permanent residents who have been in Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days must only enter through Washington Dulles International Airport for enhanced screening.

Canadian health officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

There is a growing Ebola outbreak linked to a rare virus. There is no available vaccine or medicine for the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the outbreak, which spread undetected for weeks following the first known death, while authorities tested for a more common Ebola virus.

Healthcare workers and aid groups are struggling to respond as experts say the outbreak is much larger than what has been officially reported. Authorities have so far announced 139 suspected deaths and nearly 600 suspected cases.

WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The organization's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he was "deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic" and it's likely much larger than the official case count. WHO’s chief in Congo said the outbreak could last at least two months.

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