US should lift Ebola travel restrictions on Uganda: Africa CDC

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, July 22, 2026

The Africa CDC has urged the United States to remove travel bans on Uganda amid the Ebola outbreak, noting Uganda has not reported new cases for three weeks and restrictions impede medical response efforts. The ongoing outbreak in the DRC region is rapidly worsening, requiring increased funding and improved contact tracing to prevent it from becoming the largest Ebola epidemic recorded.

Africa’s leading public health agency has called on the United States to lift travel restrictions imposed on Uganda amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak affecting parts of Central and East Africa. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) expressed its opposition to travel bans, emphasizing that such measures can hinder the delivery of medical supplies, limit the movement of healthcare personnel, and disrupt trade.

The current Ebola outbreak, which originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has prompted Washington to tighten travel restrictions on travelers from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. Speaking at an African Union health summit held in Accra, Ghana, Africa CDC director-general Jean Kaseya specifically urged the US to remove restrictions on Uganda. He noted that Uganda had not reported any new Ebola cases for three weeks, having discharged its last patient on July 16.

Kaseya argued that countries being transparent about disease outbreaks should not face punitive travel measures. “There is no reason for the US to continue with this travel restriction,” he stated. Nevertheless, he warned that the overall outbreak is escalating rapidly and could become the worst recorded if not contained promptly.

As of mid-July, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 2,344 confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC, including 930 deaths since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. Uganda has recorded 20 cases and two fatalities, mostly involving Congolese nationals who crossed the border.

The Africa CDC estimates that controlling the outbreak requires approximately $1.4 billion—nearly three times the $518 million originally projected last month. So far, African countries have pledged about $110 million. Kaseya underscored the current challenge in contact tracing, noting that although health authorities should be monitoring nearly 97,000 contacts linked to confirmed cases, efforts currently cover only around 8,500 individuals.

The call to lift travel restrictions came amid an African Union summit where ministers discussed strategies to strengthen health systems, enhance epidemic preparedness, and advance efforts to end AIDS by 2030. Leaders are expected to adopt a comprehensive roadmap targeting these goals, reflecting a broad regional commitment to confronting public health emergencies.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.