The United States has issued a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and imposed entry restrictions on non-US passport holders who have recently travelled to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan. This decision comes amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Africa, which has prompted the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to express concerns over the use of broad travel restrictions as a primary public health tool.

Africa CDC, which declared the outbreak on 15 May 2026, emphasised that such measures could create fear, damage economies, and complicate humanitarian efforts. The agency advocates for public health measures guided by science, proportionality, and international cooperation. "The fastest path to protecting all countries in the world is to aggressively support outbreak control at the source," stated Dr Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC Director General.

The outbreak has highlighted a lack of licenced vaccines or therapeutics for the Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, identified nearly two decades ago. Africa CDC argues that if the disease had predominantly threatened wealthier regions, medical countermeasures might already exist.

Africa CDC calls for intensified international support, including strengthened cross-border preparedness, support for frontline health workers, and accelerated development of vaccines and diagnostics. The agency remains committed to supporting affected countries and urges global partners to avoid repeating past mistakes of fear-driven measures that cause economic damage without delivering public health benefits

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