US to screen for Ebola at airports, one American in DR Congo infected

The United States is implementing enhanced precautions to prevent the spread of Ebola, including screening air travelers from affected regions and temporarily suspending visa services. These measures, announced by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), follow the World Health Organization's declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as an international health emergency. One American in the Democratic Republic of Congo has contracted the virus due to work-related exposure. The CDC's Ebola response incident manager, Satish Pillai, shared this information.

US health authorities confirmed an American contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and is being evacuated to Germany for treatment. In response to the ongoing Ebola virus epidemic in the DRC and Uganda, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security are implementing enhanced travel screening measures for individuals arriving in the US from these regions. These proactive measures include entry restrictions for non-US passport holders who have been in Uganda, the DRC, or South Sudan within the past 21 days, and enhanced port health protection activities. The CDC assesses the immediate risk to the general US public as low but will continue to monitor the evolving situation. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has a high mortality rate and no targeted vaccine or treatment.

An infectious disease expert has urged Hong Kong authorities to issue a travel alert for parts of central Africa due to a worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday. In response, the Hong Kong government announced it would enhance health screenings for arriving passengers at the airport. Dr. Joseph Tsang Kay-yan emphasized the need for Hong Kong to bolster preventive measures, particularly at checkpoints, given the significant business ties between some mainland Chinese cities and central Africa.

An American doctor working with a medical missionary group in the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for Ebola after being exposed while treating patients. The individual, identified as Dr. Peter Stafford, is being evacuated to Germany for treatment after developing symptoms. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also working to evacuate at least six other Americans who were exposed. This comes as an Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo has resulted in at least 100 deaths and over 390 suspected cases. In response, the CDC has issued an order blocking foreign travelers from entering the US if they have visited affected countries, including the DR Congo, within the past 21 days.

A new Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in Congo's Ituri province, resulting in 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases. Health officials are investigating the specific strain, with initial tests suggesting it may not be the deadliest Ebola Zaire variant. Neighboring Uganda has reported one imported death from Congo. The outbreak is concentrated in an area near the borders of Uganda and South Sudan, raising concerns about regional spread due to travel and insecurity. The World Health Organization has deployed a response team and provided emergency funding, while Congo has stockpiles of treatments and some vaccine doses, though their effectiveness varies by strain. This marks Congo's 17th recorded Ebola outbreak.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is experiencing a new Ebola outbreak in its northeastern Ituri province, with at least 80 deaths reported and nearly 250 suspected cases. The Bundibugyo strain, which has no vaccine or specific treatment and a lethality rate potentially reaching 50 percent, was confirmed on Friday. The outbreak began with a nurse who sought care on April 24 in Bunia, the provincial capital. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is concerned about rapid spread due to high population density and proximity to Uganda and South Sudan, where one death has also been reported. Health workers are intensifying screening and contact tracing to contain the disease.

An Ebola outbreak in the eastern Ituri province of Congo has resulted in at least 80 reported deaths. Health workers are intensifying screening and contact tracing efforts to contain the disease. The outbreak was first announced on Friday, with 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases at that time. Residents in Bunia, the capital of Ituri, have expressed fear due to the ongoing daily burials, with some reporting multiple deaths and burials each day for about a week. The exact nature of the disease remains unclear to some locals.

Health officials are raising concerns about a new Ebola outbreak in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Africa CDC has reported 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths. The outbreak is particularly worrying due to the affected area's proximity to Uganda and South Sudan and a challenging security situation caused by armed groups. Preliminary tests have detected the Ebola virus in a significant number of samples. This outbreak follows the DRC's previous Ebola episode, which ended five months ago. The Africa CDC is organizing an urgent meeting with regional health authorities and partners to bolster cross-border surveillance and response efforts, citing risks from population movement and control difficulties in the remote, poorly accessible region.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a fatal Ebola outbreak in the remote Ituri province of Congo. As of Friday, May 15, 2026, there are 246 suspected cases and 65 recorded deaths, primarily in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones. The highly contagious Ebola virus spreads through bodily fluids. In response to this confirmed outbreak, an urgent cross-border meeting has been called.

Africa's top public health body has confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in the remote Ituri province of Congo. The outbreak has resulted in 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths, primarily in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones. While four deaths are linked to laboratory-confirmed cases, further testing is underway to identify the specific strain of the virus. Preliminary results suggest it may not be the Ebola Zaire strain, which has been prevalent in past outbreaks, though sequencing is ongoing. The World Health Organization has previously noted Congo's stockpile of Ebola treatments and vaccines, though the current vaccine is effective against the Zaire strain.