U.S. State Department warns against travel to DRC

The U.S. State Department updated travel guidance on May 17 as an Ebola outbreak in central Africa widened into a broader international health alert. The department raised the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Level 4, or “Do Not Travel,” because of an Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in Ituri Province, and it also listed Uganda at Level 4. South Sudan remained at Level 4, while Rwanda’s standing remained Level 2, or “Exercise Increased Caution,” on its country page. The changes followed a May 17 World Health Organization declaration that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda constituted a public health emergency of international concern. ### Which countries did the State Department flag, and at what levels? The Democratic Republic of the Congo was moved on May 17 from Level 3 to Level 4, according to the State Department’s advisory. The department said Americans should not travel there because of “crime, unrest, and health,” and specifically cited the Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in Ituri Province. (travel.state.gov) Uganda was also listed on May 17 at Level 4, with the State Department telling Americans not to travel because of health, crime, terrorism, unrest and laws targeting people based on sexual orientation. South Sudan’s page showed a Level 4 advisory dated November 13, 2025, with the department saying Americans should not travel there because of unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines and health threats. (travel.state.gov) Rwanda’s country page showed a Level 2 advisory dated May 11, 2026. That page said Americans should exercise increased caution because of crime and unrest, rather than avoid travel altogether. ### What changed because of the Ebola outbreak? The State Department’s DRC advisory said the level was changed from Level 3 to Level 4 and that a health risk indicator was added. (travel.state.gov) The advisory also said the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency consular services in the country because of the health situation. (travel.state.gov) Uganda’s advisory cited the same WHO declaration and said the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency consular services there due to the health situation. The CDC had issued a Level 1 travel health notice for Uganda on May 15 and a Level 2 notice for the DRC on May 15, the State Department pages said. ### What did the WHO and CDC say? (travel.state.gov) The World Health Organization said on May 17 that the Ebola disease outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in the DRC and Uganda was a public health emergency of international concern, but not a pandemic emergency. WHO said the determination was made under the International Health Regulations after consultation with the affected states. (travel.state.gov) The CDC said on May 18 that, as of that date, there were reports of 11 confirmed cases and 336 suspected cases, including 88 deaths, in the DRC, and two confirmed cases including one death in Uganda in people who had traveled from the DRC. CDC officials also said on May 18 that the risk to the United States remained low. ### What are travelers being told to do now? (who.int) The State Department’s DRC page told travelers to check the CDC website for the latest travel health information before travel. Uganda’s page similarly directed travelers to review the latest State Department advisory, entry and exit requirements, local laws and embassy guidance. (cdc.gov) The CDC’s travel notices page listed Uganda at Level 1, “Practice Usual Precautions,” and the DRC outbreak notice was updated on May 18. Rwanda’s country page also said vaccinations may be required in some circumstances, including yellow fever vaccination for travelers arriving from an endemic country or an area with an active outbreak. The next updates are likely to appear on the State Department’s country advisory pages and the CDC travel health notices pages, which both agencies have been updating since May 15 and May 17. (travel.state.gov) (wwwnc.cdc.gov)