While the fight against Ebola rages on in West Africa, there is some good news for travelers heading to the US from Mali.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said they will now relax the stringent entry rules for travel originating from Mali, recognizing the steps taken to eradicate the virus from the country.
Officials said the last known Ebola case in Mali tested negative on December 5, and no other active cases have been recorded since.
Starting today, passengers from Mali do not have to enter the US at one of the designated five gateway airports that have enhanced screening and monitoring for Ebola.
Travelers from Ebola affected Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are still restricted to entry via New York JFK, Newark, Washington Dulles, Chicago and Atlanta and will still be monitored for signs of the virus for 21 days thereafter.
"Subsequent isolated cases of Ebola in Mali would not automatically require reinstitution of these measures, which are used only when there is a risk of widespread transmission," government officials said.
