The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says the passenger who was initially flagged after boarding an Air France flight despite U.S. Ebola-related travel restrictions is no longer in Canada.
According to PHAC, U.S. authorities informed Canadian officials on May 20 that Air France flight AFR378, travelling from Paris to Detroit, was denied entry into the United States due to temporary restrictions affecting travellers who had recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days.
PHAC said its quarantine officers assessed the passenger after the flight was diverted and determined that the individual showed no symptoms of illness.
The agency later confirmed that the passenger has since departed Canada and returned to Paris. The flight, along with its other passengers, was eventually cleared to continue to Detroit.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that Ebola symptoms can appear between two and 21 days after exposure. Early signs are often general and may include fever, fatigue, severe headache, body aches, and sore throat.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the diversion occurred after a passenger who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo boarded the aircraft “in error” despite restrictions linked to the Ebola outbreak. The agency said the individual should not have been allowed to board due to entry rules designed to reduce public health risks.
Officials added that measures were taken in coordination with the CDC to ensure appropriate health protocols were followed.
Air France stated that the passenger was denied entry into the United States because of updated regulations requiring travellers from certain affected countries to enter through designated ports of entry, including Washington.
Health authorities remain on alert due to an ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda. The outbreak involves a rare strain known as Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease.
Ontario’s Ministry of Health confirmed that one person in the province has been tested for several infectious diseases, including Ebola, as a precaution based on recent travel history. The Public Health Agency of Canada said samples have been sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory for further analysis.
The World Health Organization has reported nearly 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths, though it warns the actual number of infections may be higher.
