Ebola Travel Advisory 2026: What Travellers Need to Know About DRC
Planning travel to DRC or surrounding countries? This page covers current Ebola travel advisories for the 2026 outbreak, risk levels by region, and practical guidance for travellers and returning aid workers.
Current Travel Advisory Status (May 2026)
The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing an active Ebola outbreak in North Kivu Province, concentrated in Rutshuru territory. International health authorities have issued the following advisories:
| Authority | Level | Area |
|---|---|---|
| CDC (US) | Level 2 — Practice Enhanced Precautions | Eastern DRC (North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri) |
| ECDC (EU/EEA) | Very Low Risk to EU/EEA | Monitoring ongoing |
| WHO | Not a PHEIC at this time | Active monitoring |
| UK FCDO | Advise against all travel | Parts of eastern DRC (pre-existing security advisory) |
| Australia DFAT | Exercise high degree of caution | DRC — eastern provinces “Do Not Travel” |
Note: Current advisories reflect both the Ebola outbreak and pre-existing security situations in eastern DRC due to armed conflict. Even without Ebola, travel to eastern DRC (North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Maniema) carries significant safety risks.
Risk by Region
High Risk: Eastern DRC
The outbreak is currently active in North Kivu. Travellers to this region face both Ebola exposure risk and severe security risks from armed groups.
- Rutshuru territory: Active outbreak epicentre — avoid all non-essential travel
- Goma city: No active Ebola transmission confirmed in Goma as of May 2026, but the city serves as a logistics hub for outbreak response and is adjacent to affected areas
- Butembo, Beni: Monitored — no active transmission confirmed
Lower Risk: Western DRC (Kinshasa, etc.)
Western DRC (including Kinshasa) is currently free of Ebola transmission. The risk of Ebola exposure in Kinshasa is low given the geographic distance from the outbreak area and the lack of confirmed cross-provincial spread.
However, travellers should monitor the situation as it can change rapidly.
Neighbouring Countries: Enhanced Surveillance
Countries bordering the outbreak area have activated enhanced surveillance:
- Rwanda (borders North Kivu): surveillance at border crossings and airports
- Uganda: surveillance active; no confirmed cases
- Burundi: surveillance active; no confirmed cases
- Tanzania: monitoring situation
Practical Guidance for Travellers
If You Must Travel to DRC
Before travel:
- Register with your country’s embassy/consulate in Kinshasa
- Purchase comprehensive medical evacuation insurance (critical for DRC)
- Consult a travel medicine specialist at least 4 weeks before departure
- Check if pre-travel Ebola vaccination is available in your setting (rVSV-ZEBOV may be available for high-risk occupational exposures)
While in DRC:
- Avoid all contact with sick individuals, particularly those with fever, vomiting, or diarrhoea
- Do not attend funerals or burials of unknown cause of death
- Do not touch or eat bushmeat (bats, primates, forest animals)
- Practice meticulous hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
- Avoid healthcare facilities in eastern DRC except in genuine emergencies — frontline facilities may have Ebola cases
- If you develop fever, headache, or other symptoms, seek medical attention immediately and inform clinicians of your travel history
After returning:
- Monitor yourself for 21 days for symptoms (fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea)
- If symptoms develop, call ahead to your healthcare provider before visiting — do not walk into an emergency room unannounced
- Inform healthcare providers of your travel history to DRC
For Aid Workers and Healthcare Professionals
If you are deploying to DRC as part of the Ebola response:
- Complete a formal Ebola response training course before departure (MSF, WHO, CDC, GOARN all offer training)
- Ensure you have been assessed for rVSV-ZEBOV vaccination eligibility
- Know the location of the nearest Ebola Treatment Centre and WHO case management teams
- Understand and follow your organisation’s post-exposure management protocols
- Arrange for medical evacuation capability before deployment
MSF, WHO, and partner organisations have medical evacuation agreements and specialised receiving facilities in Europe and the US for ill responders.
Airport Screening
Goma International Airport (the main air hub for eastern DRC) has temperature screening and epidemiological questionnaire protocols in place.
Several countries have implemented enhanced screening for travellers from DRC:
- Temperature screening at airports
- Traveller health declaration forms
- 21-day monitoring of high-risk arrivals in some jurisdictions
Travellers who develop fever within 21 days of returning from DRC should immediately contact public health authorities and mention their travel history.
Risk to International Travellers: Perspective
The risk of an international traveller contracting Ebola in 2026 is very low if they are not visiting active outbreak areas and take basic precautions. Ebola does not spread through casual contact, air travel, or contaminated food/water.
However, the consequences of importation — as seen with the Dallas 2014 imported case — can be significant for health systems even if the risk of onward transmission in high-income countries with modern healthcare is minimal.
Monitor This Page for Updates
EbolaMap’s live tracking provides the most current information on active outbreak areas. Check our interactive map and latest news for real-time updates before and during any travel to DRC or neighbouring countries.