Ebola Outbreak: U.S. Implements Travel Bans

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

Additionally, the U.S. has implemented entry restrictions for non-U.S. passport holders who have recently visited the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan.

In a statement released on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, Africa CDC remarked that the U.S. is a longstanding and valued partner in areas such as disease surveillance, emergency response, workforce development, and global health security.

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

Ebola is a severe and often deadly disease transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, contaminated materials, or deceased persons carrying the virus.

Effective measures to interrupt transmission include early detection, swift isolation and care, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, community engagement, and safe and dignified burials.

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

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

The agency fully acknowledges the sovereign duty of every government to safeguard the health and security of its citizens.

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

“Public health measures during outbreaks should be guided by science, proportionality, transparency, international cooperation, and compliance with international health regulations.”

Africa CDC asserts that its position is unequivocal: generalized travel restrictions and border closures do not resolve outbreaks.

Such actions can instill fear, harm economies, impede transparency, complicate humanitarian efforts, and shift movement toward unmonitored routes, ultimately increasing public health risks.

“The quickest way to protect all nations is to vigorously support outbreak control at its source,” remarked 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 underscores a more profound structural injustice in global health innovation: the Bundibugyo Ebolavirus was identified almost two decades ago, yet there are currently no licensed vaccines or therapeutics available for this strain.

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

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

We cannot allow this mistake to occur 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 prompt for panic, but rather a call for solidarity, immediacy, and collective accountability.

Africa CDC urges intensified international support for:

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

Africa CDC is fully mobilized to support the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, and all at-risk Member States.