Two men who recently traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo are continuing to undergo monitoring at the Modular Unit of Princess Margaret Hospital after initially being isolated at Lynden Pindling International Airport over Ebola concerns.
Health officials in The Bahamas confirmed Sunday that the men no longer present symptoms consistent with Ebola Virus Disease after initially arriving with fever symptoms aboard a British Airways flight on Friday. The Ministry of Health and Wellness said the passengers had spent approximately three weeks in the Democratic Republic of Congo before traveling through Ethiopia and London Heathrow Airport en route to The Bahamas. Officials said the pair were flagged after presenting low-grade fevers upon arrival in New Providence and were immediately isolated as part of established public health protocols. However, authorities now say the fevers have subsided and there are currently no confirmed cases of Ebola in The Bahamas.
The two men were transported Sunday to the Modular Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital, where monitoring procedures remain ongoing.
Officials noted that one of the passengers is a British national living in Australia, while the other is a French national.
The Ministry of Health stressed that the risk to the public remains low.
The British Airways flight carried 218 passengers and crew members. Health officials said the remaining 216 individuals onboard were screened and later released after assessments showed no symptoms. Authorities also confirmed that 43 people, including nearby passengers and relevant crew members, are now under additional monitoring in accordance with international health guidelines. The incident comes amid heightened global concern over a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa. The World Health Organization recently declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern after cases spread across parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda. According to international health agencies, the outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine.
In response, Bahamian authorities have issued new travel advisories and temporary entry restrictions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is advising Bahamian nationals to avoid all travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan while exercising extreme caution when traveling to several neighboring African countries. Meanwhile, the Bahamian government has announced temporary entry restrictions for travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan for an initial period of thirty days.
Health officials continue to assess whether additional travel restrictions may become necessary as authorities monitor the evolving outbreak alongside the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization.
