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Congo - Kinshasa

Destination photograph: Congo - Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of the Congo banner Katopa Camp on the Lomami river.jpg · Lomami_River_at_Katopa_Camp,_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo.JPG: Christina Bergey derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Displayed at a reduced size; no image edits.
AI-generated landscape illustration inspired by Congo - Kinshasa
AI-generated illustration inspired by Congo - Kinshasa.

Congo - Kinshasa: recent disease outbreaks

Sources checked

Recent reports

Ebola (Bundibugyo virus) — eastern DRC with spread to multiple provinces

A large outbreak of Ebola caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) that began in May 2026 remains active and geographically widespread, concentrated in Ituri and North Kivu but reported in additional provinces including Haut‑Uélé, Tshopo, Bas‑Uélé, Sud‑Ubangi and Nord‑Ubangi. WHO situation updates give regular case and death counts and note high community mortality and ongoing transmission in many health zones. WHO Disease Outbreak News (8 Oct 2026) and WHO update (23 Oct 2026) describe the evolving situation; a WHO rapid risk assessment summarizes national severity and regional risk. WHO rapid risk assessment (20 Aug 2026).

Ebola — international importations and response implications

Imported BDBV cases from the DRC have been reported in neighbouring countries and beyond (for example, Kenya and Nigeria), and individual evacuees have been medically evacuated to Europe. WHO reports and national statements document imported cases and local contact‑tracing responses; WHO continues to advise against blanket travel or trade restrictions while urging strengthened cross‑border surveillance and preparedness. WHO Disease Outbreak News (23 Oct 2026) and WHO (8 Oct 2026).

Official response measures in the DRC — river/points‑of‑entry surveillance

The Government of the DRC, with WHO and UN partners, launched a national “Fleuve Congo Sans Ebola” initiative in August 2026 to strengthen surveillance, screening and response along the Congo River corridor (ports, river transport hubs and nearby towns) and to establish isolation and diagnostic capacity at key river hubs. This is intended to limit spread from the interior toward large river cities such as Kisangani, Mbandaka and Kinshasa. WHO Regional Office for Africa: Fleuve Congo Sans Ebola (20 Aug 2026). The DRC Ministry of Health publishes regular operational updates on coordination and community surveillance. Ministry of Health (16 Oct 2026).

Official entry/screening and travel measures (applicable to travelers)

Several countries and public‑health agencies have introduced targeted travel and entry measures related to the DRC BDBV outbreak. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted travel notices and interim rules affecting entry and screening for travelers recently in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan (including routing of some arrivals through designated U.S. airports and temporary boarding/entry restrictions for travelers recently in DRC); CDC also issues province‑level travel advisories (for example, advising to avoid non‑essential travel to Ituri and North Kivu). Travelers should check national entry rules and airline guidance before departure. CDC situation summary and traveler information (Sept–Oct 2026). WHO has issued IHR temporary recommendations to States Parties (24 Aug 2026) that emphasize cross‑border collaboration and port/point‑of‑entry measures. WHO IHR temporary recommendations (24 Aug 2026).

Cholera — regional and urban risk including Kinshasa

Cholera remains an ongoing concern across parts of the African Region and the DRC; WHO published a regional rapid risk assessment for cholera on 8 October 2026 that outlines continuing high regional cholera activity and the potential for spread where water, sanitation and health access are limited. Earlier 2026 surveillance documented substantial cholera activity in Kinshasa and several provinces, and WHO monitoring continues to flag cholera as a priority risk. WHO Rapid Risk Assessment — Cholera, African Region (8 Oct 2026) and WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record (issue 41, Oct 2026).

Disruption to routine services — increased measles and vaccine‑preventable disease risk (Ituri and other hotspots)

Ebola response activities and community fear have sharply reduced routine health visits and childhood immunization uptake in outbreak hotspots (for example, large declines in measles vaccination in Ituri were documented April–June 2026). Agencies warn that gaps in routine immunization increase the local risk of measles and other vaccine‑preventable disease outbreaks. Travelers should be aware of reduced local health access in some outbreak areas and of heightened measles risk where coverage has fallen. UNICEF analysis (5 Aug 2026) and WHO reporting on disruption to services. WHO WER (Oct 2026).

Mpox (monkeypox) — ongoing transmission in parts of DRC

Mpox transmission in the DRC has persisted beyond the 2024–2025 emergency period, with sustained clade I / clade Ib activity reported in eastern provinces. Recent peer‑reviewed analysis and national reporting describe continued, localized mpox transmission in the post‑PHEIC period. This remains a public‑health concern in areas with ongoing cases. PLOS One analysis (21 Oct 2026) and WHO regional reporting.

Snapshot note: These reports represent a snapshot of evidence assembled to 27 October 2026. Conditions and official measures can change rapidly; travelers should check real‑time national public health notices, airline and embassy guidance, and WHO/CDC updates before and during travel.