New Ebola Outbreak Spreads in DRC, Prompting International Travel Measures

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently grappling with its 17th Ebola outbreak, officially declared on May 15, 2026, in the northeastern Ituri Province. This latest outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a strain for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment available. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated this situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to its rapid spread and severity.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is traveling to Ituri on May 28, 2026, to assess and support the ongoing response efforts. The fight against the virus is significantly hampered by persistent insecurity, population displacement, and a lack of community trust, which has led to attacks on healthcare facilities and hindered contact tracing and containment measures.

As the outbreak has already spread to neighboring Uganda, several international travel measures are in effect, including exit screenings in affected regions. While the WHO generally advises against broad international travel and trade restrictions, some nations have implemented their own bans or enhanced screening for travelers from the DRC and Uganda to mitigate further global transmission.