WHO Announces Ebola Crisis: Expanded Travel Restrictions in Africa
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This has led to immediate travel restrictions and enhanced screening measures worldwide.
As of May 16, 2026, the Ituri Province of the DRC has reported a total of 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths. Among these, eight are laboratory-confirmed cases of the rare Bundibugyo virus strain. Additionally, two confirmed cases have been reported in Kampala, Uganda, among individuals traveling from the DRC.
The U.S. State Department has issued Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories for both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Following suit, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice on May 18. They have implemented enhanced screening at Washington Dulles and Houston Bush Intercontinental airports for all travelers who have been present in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival.
The CDC maintains that “the risk of spread to the United States is considered low at this time,” noting that no cases have been reported in the U.S. However, several countries, including Rwanda, have closed land borders with the DRC as a precautionary measure. Unlike other Ebola strains, there are currently no approved vaccines or specific therapeutics for the Bundibugyo virus.
Source: World Health Organization