Wednesday, 20 May 2026

US issues urgent travel warning as deadly Ebola outbreak spreads overseas

U.S. officials warn Americans against traveling to Congo's Ituri Province amid a deadly Ebola outbreak, raising the travel advisory to Level 4.


US issues urgent travel warning as deadly Ebola outbreak spreads overseas

U.S. officials are warning Americans not to visit a Central African nation, home to the world's second-largest rainforest, amid a deadly Ebola outbreak.

The advisory emphasizes Congo's Ituri Province, which is located in the northeast region, though Ebola cases have also been reported in Goma and the capital city of Kinshasa.

As of Monday, Congo's Health Cluster reported over 390 suspected cases and 105 deaths in Congo, according to the Associated Press.

The State Department warns that Ebola is a "rare, severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever illness."

"The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Ituri province," the advisory noted. "Do not travel to this area for any reason."

The advisory noted that U.S. government employees in Kinshasa need special permission to travel outside the city "due to safety risks."

"The U.S. embassy has extremely limited ability to provide routine or emergency consular services outside of Kinshasa," the advisory warned.

The advisory also stated that petty crimes - including pickpocketing and burglary - are common. Violent crimes, including armed robbery and armed home invasion, were also noted.

"Criminals may pose as police or security agents," the State Department warned.

"Local police do not always inform the U.S. embassy when they arrest a U.S. citizen. They may also delay access to detained U.S. citizens or use violence and threats during interrogations."

The country is known for the Congo Basin, the world's second-largest rainforest after the Amazon.

The Associated Press, along with Melissa Rudy and Michael Sinkiewicz of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.

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