India Advises Against Travel to DRC, Uganda, South Sudan Amid Ebola Outbreak
Quick Look
- India has advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan due to the Ebola outbreak.
- The WHO declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026, with Africa CDC also declaring it a PHECS.
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Why It Matters
An outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease is affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have declared it a public health emergency.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also officially declared the ongoing outbreak of Bundibugyo strain Ebola virus disease affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
India has advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa a global health emergency.
The WHO said on 17 May 2026 that the situation qualifies as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also declared it a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), following the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in DRC and Uganda.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, health authorities are tightening surveillance at entry points. They have also been told to identify and manage travellers showing unexplained fever symptoms, especially those arriving from affected areas, and to discourage travel to regions where cases have been reported.
Countries bordering DRC and Uganda, including South Sudan, are also considered at higher risk of transmission, the statement said.
Ebola is a serious viral disease that spreads through direct contact with infected fluids. It has a high death rate. At present, there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the Bundibugyo strain.
India has not reported any case of this strain so far.
The government has said Indian citizens already in these countries, or planning to travel there, should strictly follow local health guidelines and take extra precautions.
The advisory comes as global health agencies step up monitoring of the outbreak to prevent further spread.
Open Questions
- What specific measures are being implemented at entry points in India?
- What is the current case count and mortality rate for this Ebola strain?
- What are the specific local health guidelines being recommended to citizens in affected countries?
- What is the timeline for the WHO's PHEIC declaration and its implications?
