End of EVD outbreak in DRC

On 16 December 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which began on 10 October 2021 in North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is now over. The last case was discharged from hospital on 4 November 2021, with the total number of cases reported as 11, which included nine deaths.

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

When Ebola outbreaks occur, generally the risk of travellers becoming infected or developing EVD is extremely low.

Travellers returning home 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 a high temperature (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 viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF)

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

Source: TRAVAX, 16 December 2021