EVD in DRC

On 28 April 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the city of Mbandaka, Equateur province, in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This is the third outbreak of EVD in Equateur province since 2018. 

As of 29 April 2022, there have been cases of EVD in two people, both resulting in death. The first person became ill on 5 April and died on 21 April 2022, while the second person, a member of the same family, died on 25 April 2022. As of 27 April 2022, 267 contacts have been identified and a vaccination programme is underway. 

EVD is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF), which is spread through contact with the blood, body fluids or organs of a person or animal with the infection. 

Advice for travellers 

The risk to travellers becoming infected or EVD is extremely low.

• Travellers to known Ebola outbreak areas must be made 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. 

Travellers returning from an Ebola outbreak area 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 they develop fever and have:

• returned to the UK within 21 days from a region or area with a known outbreak of EVD
• had contact with individuals infected with a VHF 

Further information and advice on VHFs are available on the TRAVAX (for health professionals) and fitfortravel (for the general public) websites. 

Sources: TRAVAX, 29 April 2022 and fitfortravel, 29 April 2022