Ebola Outbreak: U.S. Introduces Travel Restrictions

Addis Ababa – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) recognizes the U.S. government’s Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory issued for the DRC.

Moreover, the U.S. has enacted entry restrictions for non-U.S. passport holders who have recently traveled to the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan.

In a statement on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, Africa CDC noted that the U.S. is a long-standing and valued partner in areas like disease surveillance, emergency response, workforce development, and global health security.

As of 18 May 2026, approximately 395 suspected cases and 106 related fatalities have been reported in the DRC (mainly in the Mongwalu, Rwampara, and Bunia Health Zones), along with two cases and one death in Kampala, Uganda.

Ebola is a severe and frequently fatal disease transmitted through direct contact with the body fluids of infected people, contaminated materials, or deceased individuals carrying the virus.

Effective strategies to curb transmission include early detection, rapid isolation and care, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, community engagement, and safe and dignified burials.

Since the onset of the outbreak, Africa CDC has continuously shared information with Member States, partners, the media, and the international community, accumulating over 1,600 citations in global media referencing Africa CDC data and technical updates.

Africa CDC expresses its awareness regarding the U.S. government’s advisory and entry restrictions for non-U.S. passport holders recently present in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan.

The agency fully acknowledges each government’s sovereign responsibility to protect the health and security of its citizens.

“Our concern lies not with the intent to protect populations but with the broad application of travel restrictions as a primary public health strategy during outbreaks,” stated Africa CDC.

“Public health measures during outbreaks should be informed by science, proportionality, transparency, international cooperation, and adherence to international health regulations.”

Africa CDC asserts its stance is clear: generalized travel restrictions and border closures do not resolve outbreaks.

Such actions can instill fear, disrupt economies, hinder transparency, complicate humanitarian efforts, and drive movement to unmonitored routes, ultimately increasing public health risks.

“The most effective way to protect all nations is to actively support outbreak control at its source,” stated H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC.

“Global health security cannot be achieved solely through borders; it requires collaboration, trust, scientific engagement, and rapid investment in preparedness and response capabilities.”

This ongoing Ebola outbreak highlights a deeper structural injustice in global health innovation: the Bundibugyo Ebolavirus was identified nearly two decades ago, yet there are currently no licensed vaccines or treatments available for this strain.

Africa CDC argues that if this disease primarily threatened wealthier regions, medical countermeasures would likely have been developed by now.

A similar scenario was observed during the West African Ebola outbreak when solutions were identified only after an American doctor contracted the virus, even as thousands of Africans lost their lives without assistance.

We must not allow this to happen again.

The declaration of the PHECS on 18 May 2026 on the Africa CDC Official Website aimed to mobilize political leadership, resources, and coordinated continental action.

This is not a call for panic, but a plea for solidarity, immediacy, and collective accountability.

Africa CDC urges increased international support for:

• Strengthened cross-border preparedness and regional coordination;
• Ongoing support for frontline health workers and Ministries of Health;
• Enhanced risk communication and robust community engagement;
• Expansion of Bundibugyo Ebolavirus lab diagnostics and genomic sequencing;
• Deployment of epidemiologists and emergency response specialists;
• Increased funding for surveillance, logistics, infection prevention, and case management, including the capacity for case isolation and organizing dignified burials;
• Accelerated development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for all Ebola strains;

Africa CDC stands ready to support the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, and all at-risk Member States.