DR Congo & Uganda Ebola Outbreak: WHO Urges Against Travel Restrictions BODY: Kampala, Uganda – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has advised against implementing general travel restrictions or bans in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
The move is aimed at ensuring the continuity of essential travel, commerce, and humanitarian activities while containing the outbreak.
The Africa CDC has noted that past experiences with Ebola outbreaks in West Africa, DRC, and Uganda have shown that travel bans offer limited additional public health benefits compared to targeted risk management measures. These restrictions can inadvertently hinder response efforts by discouraging the timely reporting of cases, limiting the movement of healthcare workers and resources, and potentially prolonging the outbreaks.
As of June 8, 2026, the affected provinces in DRC and Uganda, including Ituri, Sud-Kivu, Nord-Kivu, and Kampala, have reported several Ebola cases.
The outbreak is being actively managed under the coordination of the African continent’s incident management support team.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, highlighting the urgency of a coordinated response.
The WHO is deploying rapid response teams, providing medical supplies, enhancing surveillance, and establishing safe treatment centers, with community engagement as a critical component.
The World Bank Group has also offered its support, drawing on health projects, preparedness investments, and emergency financing tools to assist in rapid outbreak containment and protection of vulnerable communities.
Additionally, a clinical trial is underway to evaluate potential treatments for the Bundibugyo virus, which includes a monoclonal antibody and remdesivir.
As the outbreak continues to evolve, the WHO and Africa CDC emphasize the importance of evidence — based responses and urge against blanket travel restrictions that could undermine public health goals and regional stability.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: reliefweb
Source: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
