US Implements Travel Restrictions as Ebola Deaths Rise

The death rate among confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has exceeded 50%, with the National Institute of Public Health reporting 10,414 confirmed infections and 5,372 deaths, resulting in a case-fatality ratio of 51.6%. The United States announced new travel restrictions for passengers with recent travel to DR Congo, effective late November 3, 2026.

These restrictions require international travelers to declare if they have visited DR Congo in the past 21 days. The increase in the fatality rate is attributed to a review of mortality records across 97% of affected health zones in Ituri province, the outbreak's epicenter.

Although cases have been reported in neighboring countries, transmission remains limited. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also announced additional screening and boarding requirements.

Nigeria has intensified surveillance efforts to prevent the spread of Ebola, with the possibility of declaring the outbreak over by December 7, 2026, if no new cases emerge.