U.S. warns against travel to three African countries

The U.S. State Department did not issue a fresh May 19 blanket warning covering three unnamed African countries, based on current federal postings. Instead, official U.S. travel guidance shows the Democratic Republic of the Congo was raised to Level 4 “Do Not Travel” on May 17, while Uganda was also listed at Level 4, with both advisories citing the Ebola outbreak alongside other risks. CDC said on May 19 it was monitoring an Ebola outbreak in remote areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and said the overall risk to the American public and travelers remained low. The agency also said no Ebola cases tied to the outbreak had been confirmed in the United States. ### Which countries are actually named in the U.S. travel guidance? (travel.state.gov) The Democratic Republic of the Congo is explicitly named in a May 17 State Department advisory that says the country was changed from Level 3 to Level 4. The advisory says Americans should not travel there because of the Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease outbreak in Ituri Province, and also cites crime, unrest and health risks. (cdc.gov) Uganda is explicitly named in a separate State Department advisory dated May 17. That notice says Uganda is Level 4 “Do not travel” due to health, crime, terrorism, unrest and laws targeting persons based on sexual orientation. The health section says the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. (travel.state.gov) Rwanda is also referenced in updated U.S. guidance, but not as a full “Do Not Travel” countrywide Ebola ban. State lists Rwanda at Level 3 “Reconsider travel,” with a Level 4 warning limited to within 10 kilometers of Rwanda’s border with the DRC, and cites health risks tied to the regional Ebola outbreak. (travel.state.gov) ### Did CDC tell Americans to avoid all travel? CDC’s Travelers’ Health page shows a Level 3 notice for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, meaning “Reconsider Nonessential Travel.” The notice says the country is experiencing an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. Uganda’s Ebola notice is lower. (travel.state.gov) The State Department advisory for Uganda says CDC issued a Level 1 “Practice Usual Precautions” travel health notice for Ebola on May 15. That means State’s Level 4 advisory for Uganda is not solely an Ebola restriction. ### How large is the outbreak right now? (wwwnc.cdc.gov) CDC said on May 19 that health ministries in the DRC and Uganda had reported 536 suspected cases, 105 probable cases, 34 confirmed cases and 134 deaths. The agency said 26 new confirmed cases and 143 new suspected cases had been identified in the prior 24 to 48 hours. CDC also said the Uganda figures included two confirmed cases, including one death, in people who traveled from the DRC, and said no further spread had been reported there. (travel.state.gov) The agency said the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus subtype of Ebola and that there is no vaccine for that strain. ### What steps has the U.S. government already taken? (cdc.gov) CDC and the Department of Homeland Security said they implemented enhanced travel screening, entry restrictions and other public health measures on May 18 to prevent Ebola disease from entering the United States. CDC said more information on those measures was forthcoming. (cdc.gov) CDC said on May 17 that an American exposed while caring for patients in the DRC had tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo disease, and that the patient and high-risk contacts were being moved to Germany for treatment and care. ### Where should travelers check next? Travelers can verify country-by-country warnings on Travel.State.gov, where the DRC and Uganda advisories both show May 17 issue dates and Rwanda shows a revised May 17 advisory. (cdc.gov) CDC’s Travelers’ Health site continues to post destination-specific Ebola notices and outbreak updates. (travel.state.gov) (cdc.gov)