Ebola in DRC: Travel Advice and Health Checks

Is it safe to travel to the DRC and neighbouring countries?

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is active, evolving and geographically widespread. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to parts of the DRC and against all but essential travel to other parts. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May 2026. For most travellers, the risk of infection is low, but you should check official entry and health screening rules for every country on your route before you book.

Who this affects

This affects anyone travelling to or from the DRC, and anyone transiting through neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan or Rwanda. It also affects humanitarian and healthcare workers, who have a substantially greater risk of exposure than the general population.

Some countries have additional health screening requirements or entry restrictions for travellers arriving from, or who have recently visited, the DRC. The US CDC has issued a Level 3 Travel Notice for parts of the DRC and a Level 2 Travel Notice for the DRC and Uganda. The CDC also has guidance for travellers returning to the United States from DRC, Uganda or South Sudan.

What to do step by step

1. Check the official travel advice for every country on your route, including transit countries, before booking. The FCDO advises against all travel to parts of the DRC and against all but essential travel to other parts.
2. Check entry requirements and health screening rules for your destination and any transit country. Some countries have heightened screening for travellers from Uganda and the DRC.
3. At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest vaccine recommendations and see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay.
4. Make sure you have travel insurance that covers local treatment and emergency medical evacuation. Medical care in the DRC is extremely limited, and evacuation to South Africa or elsewhere may be necessary.
5. If you take regular medication, bring enough for your trip in properly marked packaging.
6. Follow local public health advice and wash your hands regularly.

How Ebola spreads and how to reduce your risk

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood, body fluids or tissues of an infected person, or with contaminated materials such as bedding or clothing. It can also spread through contact with infected animals, including bats and non-human primates, or through contaminated needles. Ebola is not spread through airborne transmission.

To reduce your risk:

• Avoid contact with anyone who is unwell or showing symptoms of Ebola.
• Avoid contact with blood, body fluids and human remains.
• Avoid handling bushmeat or contact with bats and other wild animals.
• Wash your hands regularly and follow local public health advice.
• Avoid funeral rituals that involve preparing bodies for burial.

The incubation period is 2 to 21 days. A person infected with Ebola cannot spread the disease until they develop symptoms. Symptoms can be sudden and include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rash and, in less frequent cases, internal and external bleeding. It can be difficult to distinguish Ebola from malaria, typhoid fever and meningitis.

Vaccines and treatment

Two vaccines are approved for Ebola virus disease: Ervebo and Zabdeno and Mvabea. The Ervebo vaccine is recommended as part of outbreak response. However, the Bundibugyo virus is a different species. The Ebola vaccine licensed in the United States (ERVEBO) is indicated only for the Zaire species, and based on studies in animals it is not expected to protect against Bundibugyo virus. There is currently no FDA-licensed or authorised vaccine to protect against Bundibugyo virus infection.

For Ebola virus disease, WHO recommends treatment with the monoclonal antibodies mAb114 (ansuvimab) or REGN-EB3 (Inmazeb). For other Ebola diseases, there are no approved therapeutics, but candidate products are under development. Early intensive supportive care, including rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids, improves survival.

This is general guidance. Ask a doctor, pharmacist or travel clinic about your own situation, ideally weeks before travelling.

Costs and timing

Start preparing at least 8 weeks before your trip. Check vaccine recommendations and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page if you are in the UK. Make sure your travel insurance covers local treatment and medical evacuation, and that you have accessible funds to cover the cost of treatment abroad and repatriation.

There is no general emergency medical number in the DRC. If you have a medical emergency that requires an ambulance, contact a hospital to make the request. Contact your insurance company quickly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment. In Uganda, dial 999 and ask for an ambulance, but medical help at the scene of an accident is likely to be limited, particularly outside Kampala.

Exceptions and special groups

Humanitarian and healthcare workers have a much higher risk of exposure. The UK Health Security Agency has Ebola information for humanitarian or healthcare workers. The CDC has recommendations for organisations sending US-based personnel to areas with viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks.

If you are pregnant or have a health condition, check that your destination can provide the healthcare you may need and that you have appropriate insurance. Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of the DRC and Uganda.

What is not yet confirmed

The outbreak is active and evolving. Case numbers are under continuous review and harmonisation, and the situation can change quickly. Check the official pages listed in the sources for the latest updates before you travel.