The U.S. State Department has issued or updated Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan amid an Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak that is raising new health concerns in East and Central Africa. The warnings place the region under closer scrutiny for travelers, but they do not describe identical conditions in each country. The latest guidance combines public health concerns with broader safety issues, including unrest, limited medical access, cross-border movement, and the reduced ability of U.S. officials to assist travelers during an emergency.
Travelers should treat the advisories seriously while also understanding how Ebola spreads. Health officials say the disease is transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and can be fatal. That means travelers should rely on official health guidance, monitor embassy and CDC updates, and avoid assumptions based on headlines alone. The CDC says the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low, and no Ebola cases linked to this outbreak have been confirmed in the United States.
Why The DRC, Uganda, And South Sudan Are Under Level 4 Advisories
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is under a Level 4 advisory due to crime, unrest, and health risks. The State Department raised the advisory from Level 3 to Level 4 due to the Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in Ituri Province. The agency also said the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency consular services in the DRC because of the health situation, and that U.S. government employees need special authorization to travel outside Kinshasa.
Uganda’s advisory was also raised from Level 3 to Level 4 on May 17. The State Department lists health, crime, terrorism, unrest, and laws targeting people based on sexual orientation in the advisory. The health warning is tied to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda. CDC separately lists Uganda under a Level 1 Ebola travel health notice, which advises travelers to practice usual precautions.
Meanwhile, South Sudan’s advisory level did not change, but the State Department updated its advisory summary because of the Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province. The country remains under Level 4 because of unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, and health risks. The advisory says travelers should not travel to South Sudan for any reason.
Case Counts Are Rising As WHO Escalates Its Response
The outbreak has moved quickly since mid-May. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. WHO later said the outbreak did not meet the criteria for a pandemic, but it issued temporary recommendations for affected countries, neighboring countries, and other states due to the risk of regional spread.
As of May 25, CDC said the DRC and Uganda health ministries had reported 906 suspected cases, 105 confirmed cases, 223 suspected deaths, and 10 confirmed deaths in the DRC. Uganda had reported seven confirmed cases and one confirmed death, with five cases clearly linked to the first two confirmed cases. CDC also said a new confirmed case had been reported in Sud-Kivu Province after earlier confirmed cases in Ituri and Nord-Kivu Provinces.
WHO has warned that the outbreak is unfolding in a difficult environment marked by insecurity, humanitarian pressure, population movements, strained trade routes, and strained health systems. The agency noted that countries bordering the DRC face a high risk and should strengthen readiness, surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention, community engagement, and laboratory capacity.
New U.S. Entry Restrictions Could Affect Returning Travelers
CDC has also announced new U.S. entry restrictions and enhanced screening tied to the outbreak. Under a CDC order effective May 18, certain non-U.S. citizens who were in the DRC, South Sudan, or Uganda within the previous 21 days are temporarily prohibited from entering the United States. CDC says lawful permanent residents who have been in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days are currently prevented from entering the United States under the temporary order.
U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals may still enter the United States, but they will undergo enhanced public health entry screening if they have recently been in one of the affected countries. CDC says affected travelers may have their flights rerouted to Washington-Dulles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, or George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Screening may include a travel and symptom questionnaire, a temperature check, observation for signs of illness, and collection of contact information for possible public health follow-up.
What The Bundibugyo Strain Means For Travelers
This outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus, one of the orthoebolaviruses that can cause Ebola disease in people. CDC says there is no vaccine for the Bundibugyo virus, and treatment consists of supportive care. WHO has also said there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo species involved in the current outbreak, although work is underway to test promising candidates.
That does not mean every traveler in the region faces the same level of risk. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola, or through contaminated materials. Travelers should avoid contact with sick people, avoid funeral practices involving direct contact with bodies, follow local health instructions, and monitor for symptoms for 21 days after leaving affected areas. Anyone who develops symptoms should avoid travel and contact public health authorities immediately.
Travelers with plans involving the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, or nearby countries should check the latest State Department advisories, CDC travel health notices, airline routing rules, embassy alerts, and local health guidance before departure. The situation remains fluid, and health measures, airport screening, mass gatherings, and entry procedures may change quickly as authorities respond to the outbreak.
