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The United States has escalated its travel advisories for three African countries due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak, urging Americans to avoid travel to the affected nations.
The State Department advised US citizens not to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan or Uganda for any reason, elevating those countries to Level 4: “Do Not Travel.”
Also, the department upgraded its Rwandan advisory to Level 3, “Reconsider Travel.”
“The Department of State strongly urges Americans not to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, or Uganda for any reason and to reconsider travel to Rwanda due to the Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the region,” the department said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The Department’s Travel Advisories for DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda are now Level 4 – Do Not Travel, and the Travel Advisory for Rwanda is Level 3 – Reconsider Travel.”
The Department of State strongly urges Americans not to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, or Uganda for any reason and to reconsider travel to Rwanda due to the Ebola Bundibugyo Virus disease outbreak in the region. The Department’s Travel… pic.twitter.com/rC4vRJxVp7
— TravelGov (@TravelGov) May 19, 2026
The updates come after the World Health Organisation declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17 due to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, which started in the northeastern Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has since spread internationally.
Health officials report dozens of fatalities and hundreds of suspected cases, mostly in Ituri Province, with confirmed imported cases in Uganda.
Concern is increased because the Bundibugyo strain is relatively uncommon, and there are no approved vaccines or targeted treatments.
The virus is not airborne and is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated objects.
