The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is now the largest in that country’s history, with more than 10,700 confirmed cases, and it’s changing how people travel. Since 3 November 2026, every passenger flying into the United States has to confirm they haven’t been in the DRC in the past 21 days, while health agencies in the US and UK still rate the risk to the general public as low.
The outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus, one of the less common Ebola species. The World Health Organization (WHO) published its latest Disease Outbreak News update on 6 November 2026, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its current situation page the same day. Here’s what that means for you.
What happened
The DRC declared the outbreak on 15 May 2026, and WHO declared it a public health emergency of international concern shortly after. According to WHO, by 3 November the DRC had recorded 10,668 confirmed cases, including 5,198 deaths, across eight provinces. Ituri and North Kivu in the east account for most of them.
The virus has also crossed borders. The CDC’s figures (data to 4 November) list confirmed cases in Kenya (9), Uganda (20), Nigeria (1) and France (1). WHO says Kenya’s cases all link to one cluster with no new cases since 19 October, and Nigeria’s single case was an imported one.
Three developments made headlines last week:
- New US entry rule. From 11:59 pm Eastern time on 3 November, all passengers on international flights to the US must attest that they haven’t been in the DRC in the 21 days before departure.
- A patient in London. On 5 November the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed a British aid worker with Ebola had been flown home and was being treated in a specialist isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital.
- New vaccine trials. On 4 November WHO announced two more vaccine candidates will join a trial in the DRC, the first time vaccines designed for Bundibugyo virus will be tested during an outbreak.
What changes for you
For most people reading this, very little changes day to day. Ebola doesn’t spread through the air like flu or measles. You can only catch it through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of someone who is sick with it (or who has died from it), or with objects contaminated by those fluids. People aren’t infectious before symptoms start.
What does change is travel. Here’s how the rules look right now:
| Where you are | What applies | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Flying to the US | Every international passenger must attest they weren’t in the DRC in the previous 21 days. Travellers who were in the DRC in that window can’t board commercial flights to the US. US citizens who were in Uganda or South Sudan (but not the DRC) must enter through designated airports for extra screening. | CDC |
| Travel advice for the DRC | CDC advises avoiding all travel to Ituri and North Kivu, avoiding non-essential travel to Haut-Uele and Tshopo, and taking extra precautions elsewhere in the DRC and in Uganda. | CDC |
| Returning to the UK | If you’ve been in the DRC or nearby affected areas in the last 21 days and feel unwell, stay home and call NHS 111 (or 999 in an emergency). Don’t walk into a GP surgery or hospital without calling first. | UKHSA |
| Other countries | WHO advises against travel or trade bans, so rules vary. Check your own government’s travel advice before any trip to central or east Africa. | WHO |
Who is affected
The people at real risk are those in the affected provinces of the DRC, especially health workers, family members caring for sick relatives, and people taking part in burials. WHO rates the risk as very high in the DRC, high for countries that share a land border with it, and low for the rest of Africa and the world.
Outside Africa, the groups who need to pay attention are:
- aid workers and health staff heading to, or coming back from, the outbreak zone
- anyone with travel booked to the DRC, Uganda or neighbouring countries
- people with family visiting from affected areas
- airline and airport staff, who follow their employer’s screening procedures
Both the CDC and UKHSA say the risk to the public in the US and UK is low. UKHSA added that bringing the aid worker to London doesn’t raise that risk, because the patient is in strict isolation.
Symptoms to know
Bundibugyo disease looks a lot like other Ebola infections. WHO says symptoms show up 2 to 21 days after exposure and start out vague:
- fever and chills
- tiredness and muscle aches
- headache and sore throat
- later, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain
- in some people, unexplained bleeding or bruising
That early stage is easy to confuse with malaria, typhoid or flu, which is why travel history matters so much. If you’ve had a fever after a trip, our guide on telling typhoid and dengue apart explains why doctors ask where you’ve been.
What to do now
If you haven’t travelled and don’t have contact with anyone from the outbreak area, you don’t need to do anything special. Normal hygiene, like washing your hands well, is plenty.
If you’re travelling or have just come back, use this checklist:
- Check your government’s latest travel advice before booking, and again before you leave. Rules have changed several times since May.
- If you must go to an affected area, avoid contact with anyone who is sick, avoid funerals and handling bodies, and don’t touch bats, monkeys or bushmeat.
- Note the date you left. You need to watch for symptoms for 21 days after that.
- Take your temperature if you feel unwell. A fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher after a trip deserves a phone call.
- If you get sick, phone first. Tell the doctor, NHS 111 or your local health line where you’ve been before you show up anywhere in person.
When to get medical help
Call a doctor or health line straight away if you develop a fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding within 21 days of being in the DRC or another affected area, or after contact with someone who has Ebola. If you’re seriously unwell, call your local emergency number (911 in the US, 999 in the UK, 112 in the EU and India) and tell the operator about your travel.
Most fevers after travel turn out to be something else, like malaria, which is also dangerous and needs fast testing. So don’t wait it out either way.
Vaccines and treatment
This is the hard part. WHO says there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments for Bundibugyo virus. The licensed Ebola vaccine Ervebo was made for a different species (Zaire). It’s now being tested against Bundibugyo in a trial called Tumaini, Swahili for “hope”, which started in Bunia, Ituri, on 23 October.
The two new candidates joining that trial are ChAdOx1, developed by the University of Oxford with the Serum Institute of India, and Moderna’s mRNA-1469. The trial uses ring vaccination, which means offering the vaccine to the contacts of confirmed patients and their contacts in turn. Until results come in, care focuses on fluids, oxygen and treating complications, delivered in isolation units.
What’s still unclear
- The true size of the outbreak. DRC’s official numbers count confirmed cases only, so probable and suspected cases aren’t included. The real total is likely higher.
- How long the US entry rule will last. The CDC hasn’t given an end date.
- Whether the new vaccines work. The trial has only just started, and results will take time.
- The London patient’s condition. UKHSA hadn’t released further clinical updates when this was written.
Frequently asked questions
Can I catch Ebola on a plane?
It’s very unlikely. Ebola spreads through direct contact with body fluids of a person who has symptoms, not through the air. That’s why health agencies focus on screening travellers and isolating anyone who falls ill.
Is this the same Ebola as the 2014 West Africa outbreak?
No. The 2014 to 2016 epidemic was caused by the Zaire species. This one is Bundibugyo virus, which is why the existing licensed vaccine can’t simply be rolled out.
I’m American and have been in the DRC recently. Can I fly home?
Not on a commercial flight to the US within 21 days of leaving the DRC, according to the CDC. Contact the nearest US embassy for help with your options.
Should I cancel a holiday to East Africa?
It depends where you’re going. CDC’s advice is specific to parts of the DRC and Uganda, and WHO doesn’t recommend broad travel bans. Check official advice for your exact destination and talk to a travel clinic.
How long is someone with Ebola contagious?
People become infectious once symptoms start, and the risk rises as the illness gets worse. The virus can stay in some body fluids after recovery, which is why survivors get follow-up advice.
For more on staying well this season, see our tips on protecting yourself during flu season and the early signs of H1N1 and when to test. If you’re dealing with a stomach bug after travel, our guide to diarrhoea causes and treatment covers fluids and warning signs.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor. If you have symptoms or a health condition, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
