India issues travel advisory following WHO ebola public health emergency declaration

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NEW DELHI, May 24, 2026 :- The Government of India has advised its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan until further notice following a severe escalation in regional Ebola outbreaks.

The travel advisory comes after the World Health Organization officially designated the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the International Health Regulations.

Concurrently, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security.

Neighboring countries, including South Sudan, have been assessed as high-risk zones for disease transmission.In response to the growing threat, the World Health Organization Emergency Committee has recommended heightened disease surveillance at international points of entry to detect, assess, and manage travelers showing unexplained febrile illness arriving from affected areas.

Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo strain is a serious viral hemorrhagic fever with a high mortality rate, and there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments available for this particular strain.

While India has not reported any cases of this Ebola strain, the government is taking strict precautionary measures.

Indian citizens currently residing in or traveling through the affected African nations are strongly advised to adhere to public health guidelines issued by local authorities and maintain heightened safety precautions.