The Trump administration has urged European countries to introduce travel restrictions for individuals recently in Central African nations affected by the Ebola outbreak, aiming to limit the risk of the virus spreading ahead of the FIFA World Cup, according to officials and diplomatic sources.

Washington issued a formal diplomatic statement of concern on 1 June, calling on European governments to adopt similar measures. However, an EU diplomat said member states have yet to respond.

The request follows U.S. action last month, when the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention barred non‑citizens who had recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan from entering the country, while directing Americans returning from those areas to go through designated airports for health screening.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stressed that Ebola must be contained before reaching U.S. shores, with the administration prioritising efforts to prevent potentially exposed individuals from travelling.

A State Department official said the measures, alongside financial support for the global response, demonstrate Washington’s commitment to tackling the outbreak, which involves the Bundibugyo strain declared an international emergency by the World Health Organization.

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The administration has called for coordinated global action, urging countries to contribute funding and implement travel restrictions to curb the spread.

Officials say these efforts include diplomatic engagement with partners worldwide to protect travellers, athletes and fans expected to attend the World Cup, which begins this week across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Despite criticism over cuts to foreign aid and the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington says it has provided more than 150 tonnes of medical supplies and pledged over $200 million to affected countries, making it the largest contributor to the Ebola response.

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