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Ebola virus disease in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Mbandaka)

29 Apr 2022

The World Health Organization has reported a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the city of Mbandaka, Equateur province, in the northwest of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This is the third oubreak of the disease in Equateur province since 2018.

As of 29 April 2022, there have been 2 cases, both of whom have died. The first case became ill on 5 April and died on 21 April. The second case was a member of the same family and died on 25 April 2022. As of 27 April, 267 contacts have been identified and a vaccination programme is underway.

Ebola virus disease (EVD) 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 EVD is extremely low.

  • If you are travelling to a known Ebola outbreak area, you must be 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.

If you return home from an Ebola outbreak area, you 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 you develop a high temperature (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 fitfortravel Viral Haemorrhagic Fever page.