Advisory against non-essential travel to Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan

The Indian government has advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and South Sudan due to the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa.

The Ministry of Health’s advisory follows the World Health Organization (WHO), declaring the Ebola outbreak in central Africa a “global public health emergency.”

Previously, the apex health institute declared the central Africa outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Officials revised the risk to “very high” nationally in the DRC and “high” regionally, though global risk remains “low.”

The current Bundibugyo strain lacks approved vaccines or treatments, requiring immediate public health interventions.

As of Saturday (May 23), the total reported death toll from the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has risen to 216. The total number of cases, including suspected and confirmed, stands at 968.