Ebola Outbreak in Africa U.S. Issues Entry Restrictions

M.A. Dworkin

Africa - The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is monitoring an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, which has killed 135 Africans throughout remote areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. To date, no cases of Ebola disease have been confirmed in the United States due to the outbreak. The current overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low. 

There are reports of hundreds of confirmed cases and 540 confirmed cases including 130 deaths in the DRC. There are at least 2 confirmed cases including 1 death in Ugandan people who have traveled from the DRC. No further spread has been reported.  

The CDC and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other appropriate federal agencies, have taken proactive public health measures by implementing enhanced travel screening, entry restrictions, and public health measures to prevent Ebola virus disease from entering the U.S. amid these ongoing outbreaks in East and Central Africa. 

On May 17, 2026, an American physician, Dr. Peter Stafford, who was exposed as part of his work caring for patients in the DRC tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo disease. The individual developed symptoms over this last weekend and tested positive late on Sunday, May 17, 2026. The CDC is working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Department of State to move the patient to Germany for treatment and care. High-risk contacts, including the man’s wife, who was exposed to the virus, but tested negative, are also being moved to Germany.   

This is a rapidly developing situation, and case counts are subject to change. More travel information about enhanced security measures is forthcoming. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has determined the outbreak in the DRC and Uganda constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) but does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency.

There is no vaccine for Bundibugyo virus, which is one of several viruses that can cause Ebola disease in humans, and as of this time treatment only consists of supportive care. Experts believe that fruit bats are the likely carriers of the virus. Historically, Bundibugyo virus has a death rate ranging from 25-50%. Patients have experienced classic Ebola disease symptoms, like fever, headache, vomiting, severe weakness, abdominal pain, nosebleeds, and vomiting blood. In the DRC most cases to date have been in people between 20 and 39 years old, and two-thirds have been in female patients. 

This is the 17th outbreak of Ebola since 1976. The most recent outbreak ended in December 2025. The worst outbreak of the disease occurred in the 2013-2016 West Africa epidemic. It resulted in over 28,000 recorded cases and 11,325 deaths, predominantly across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It was the first and largest Ebola epidemic to spread to urban centers, completely overwhelming local healthcare systems. 

The CDC is working with international partners and the Ministries of Health on this evolving situation.