Quarantined citizens at New York military base after return from Congo, sources say

Health officials quarantined 14 American citizens for four days at a New York military base after their return from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an Ebola outbreak is ongoing, Reuters reported July 22. According to records and two sources, the travelers—who came back via Canada—were not symptomatic for Ebola and were considered not to be at risk of transmitting the disease. No U.S. order barred citizens from returning via land, but a “do-not-board” directive issued this month required Americans in Congo to quarantine for at least 21 days before flying. Defense Department notifications said the group could not return directly from Congo as U.S. Ebola screening tightened. The move underscores uneven policies, with public health and legal experts warning it may be unlawful to deny entry to U.S. citizens. The article also cites nearly 2,500 confirmed Bundibugyo-strain cases.