Ebola in Democratic Republic of the Congo

The World Health Organization report that the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have confirmed a case of Ebola virus disease in North Kivu Province.

An Ebola virus disease outbreak that affected North Kivu Province was declared over on 3 May 2021.  It is not immediately known if this case is related to the recent cluster of cases reported in September of this year.

Ebola virus disease is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF). It is spread through contact with the blood, body fluids or organs of a person or animal with the infection.

Advice to travellers

The risk to travellers becoming infected or developing Ebola Virus Disease is extremely low.

• Travellers to known Ebola outbreak areas must be made aware of the risk of infection and transmission routes of Ebola virus.
• Medical personnel travelling to work in an outbreak region must follow strict infection prevention control guidance.

Travellers returning from an Ebola outbreak area should seek rapid medical attention by contacting NHS 24 (Scotland) or NHS 111 (rest of UK) for advice prior to attending UK medical facilities if they develop fever and have:

• Returned to the UK within 21 days from a region or area with a known outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease.
• Had contact with individuals infected with a VHF.

For further information, see the TRAVAX Viral Haemorrhagic Fever page.