Visa Policy: The United States has suspended issuance of visas for any traveler who has visited South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), or Uganda within the 21 days preceding their intended arrival. The restriction also applies to lawful permanent U.S. residents who have recently traveled to these countries, barring their re‑entry for a specified period.
Ebola Situation: The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no authorized vaccine or treatment exists. Originating in the Ituri province of eastern Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially identified the disease on 15 May 2026. As of 23 May 2026, WHO reported 177 suspected deaths and 750 suspected cases across the three affected nations.
U.S. Emergency Funding: The U.S. government announced an emergency allocation of $23 million to establish up to 50 localized treatment clinics in the affected regions.
CDC Deployment: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is sending specialized staff to Uganda to oversee disease surveillance, laboratory testing, and contact tracing. The CDC team will coordinate with Kenya’s Ministry of Health to mitigate cross‑border transmission.
Aid Context: Critics cite the 2023 dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and reduced international funding as factors that weakened local health infrastructure. The State Department counters by referencing a five‑year, $1.2 billion public‑health agreement signed with the DRC in February 2026.
