The Government of India has advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan following the reported outbreaks of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain in the affected region.
According to the advisory, the World Health Organization, under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has also officially declared the ongoing outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
In its latest recommendations issued on May 22, 2026, the WHO’s IHR Emergency Committee called for strengthened disease surveillance at Points of Entry to “detect, assess, report and manage travellers with unexplained febrile illness arriving from areas with documented BDBV detection,” while also discouraging travel to areas where the Bundibugyo virus has been detected.
The advisory noted that countries bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, are considered at high risk of disease transmission.
Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever associated with a high mortality rate. Authorities stated that no vaccines or specific treatments have yet been approved to prevent or treat Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.
The Government of India clarified that no cases of Ebola disease linked to the Bundibugyo virus strain have been reported in the country so far.
“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 its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan,” the advisory stated.
