US State Department Tells Americans to Avoid Congo Due to Ebola

Health workers are sprayed with disinfectant after coming into contact with the body of a person suspected of having died from Ebola in Bunia, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on May 25, 2026. Glody Murhabazi/AFP via Getty ImagesThe U.S. State Department is telling Americans not to go to Congo for any reason, due to the growing outbreak of Ebola in the central African country.“Do not travel for any reason to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to Ebola, which is a deadly communicable disease,” the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa said on July 11.“If you travel and are exposed to Ebola, your life may be at serious risk. You may have to quarantine outside the United States at your own expense for up to 21 days and costs may be very significant. Your insurance may not cover these costs.”The State Department had in June advised Americans not to go to Congo because of crime, unrest, terrorism, kidnapping risk, and health concerns. The new alert underlines the risk of Ebola, a disease that is deadly in a significant number of cases.Congo, which has a population of about 124 million, has been struggling with an outbreak of Ebola for months. Cases have been confirmed in Uganda, one of Congo’s neighbors, and Americans have been told to avoid Uganda.Congolese authorities said Sunday that the total number of confirmed cases has reached 1,926. That includes 702 patients who have died, 318 who have recovered, and 753 who are currently in isolation or being cared for in hospitals.An American citizen is among the recent cases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on July 10.“CDC is working with the patient’s employing organization, other U.S. federal agencies, public health authorities, and partners in DRC to help prevent further transmission by supporting contact tracing and performing risk assessments to identify high-risk contacts,” the CDC said in a brief statement.The CDC and State Department have not released details about the person, such as whether the person would be transported outside Congo and their employment, which was said to be with a humanitarian organization.An American doctor who tested positive for Ebola earlier in the outbreak was taken to Germany for isolation and treatment.Health workers don protective equipment during a training on responding to Ebola, in Ongata Rongai, Kenya, on July 10, 2026. Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty Images“The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans,” a State Department spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email.“We are aware of this case and are actively facilitating support for the American citizen affected. Decisions on care will be made case-by-case based on what is the best clinical decision for a given patient at that time—in consultation with the Bureau of Medical Services, CDC, and the patient—to account for numerous factors. Due to privacy and other considerations, we have no further comment at this time.”The CDC says on its website that the likelihood of Ebola spreading to the United States is “very low.”