**Executive Summary**
The Government of India issued a travel advisory on 24 May 2026, following the WHO’s declaration of the Bundibugyo strain Ebola outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Indian citizens are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan until further notice. The measure aims to prevent the domestic spread of the disease, which currently has no approved vaccines or treatments.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Global Health Emergency Declarations**
* The World Health Organization (WHO) determined the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 17 May 2026.
* The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared the Bundibugyo strain Ebola Virus Disease a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
* South Sudan is assessed as a high-risk area for transmission due to its proximity to the DRC and Uganda.
**Disease Characteristics**
* The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, a viral haemorrhagic fever with a high mortality rate.
* There are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments available for this specific strain.
* As of the date of the advisory, India has reported no cases of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo strain.
**Surveillance and Travel Recommendations**
* The WHO IHR Emergency Committee (as of 22 May 2026) recommends strengthened disease surveillance at Points of Entry to detect and manage travellers with unexplained febrile illness.
* The WHO discourages travel to areas where the Bundibugyo virus has been detected.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Citizens (Potential Travellers)**
**Impact**
Indian citizens planning trips to Central and East Africa are restricted by a formal advisory against non-essential travel to the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan.
**Action Required**
Citizens must defer all non-essential travel to the specified countries until further notice from the government.
**Indian Citizens (Currently Residing in or Travelling in Affected Countries)**
**Impact**
These individuals are at a heightened risk of exposure to a serious disease with no available vaccine or specific treatment.
**Action Required**
Individuals must strictly adhere to public health guidance issued by local authorities and maintain heightened precautions to prevent infection.
Key Entities Referenced
World Health Organization (WHO): The international health authority that determined the Ebola outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005: The legal framework under which the WHO declared the Ebola situation a global public health emergency.
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan: The primary locations affected by the Ebola outbreak for which the Government of India has issued a travel advisory.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian ministry responsible for issuing the travel advisory and guiding citizens on health precautions related to the Ebola outbreak.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC): The regional health agency that declared the Bundibugyo strain Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak a Public Health
Emergency of International Concern; Africa CDC
Declares Public Health Emergency of Continental
Security
Government of India Advises Citizens to Avoid Non-Essential
Travel to Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and
South Sudan
Posted On: 24 MAY 2026 8:24AM by PIB Delhi
In light of the reported outbreaks of Ebola Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and
Uganda, the World Health Organization (WHO), under the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005,
on 17 May 2026, determined the situation to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
(PHEIC).
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).
Further, the WHO IHR Emergency Committee on 22 May 2026 issued temporary recommendations to
strengthen disease surveillance at Points of Entry to “detect, assess, report and manage travellers with
unexplained febrile illness arriving from areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection” while also
“discouraging travel to areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection”.
Countries bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, are
assessed to be at high risk of disease transmission.
Ebola Disease is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by infection with the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola
Virus. It is a serious disease with a high mortality rate. At present, no vaccines or specific treatments have
been approved to prevent or treat Ebola Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.
India has not reported any case of Ebola Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.
In view of the evolving situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other affected countries,
and in line with WHO’s recommendations, Government of India advises all Indian citizens to avoid non-
essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan until further notice.
Indian citizens currently residing in or travelling to these countries are advised to strictly follow public
health guidance issued by local authorities and maintain heightened precautions.
The advisory can be accessed here:
https://mohfw-dohfw.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/05/2c1ba58591b94ed8a892935e75e8006f.pdf*****
SR
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