The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced today (May 27) that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, which the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026, has recently developed rapidly and is becoming increasingly severe.
In addition to Ituri Province in the DRC being an outbreak hotspot, cases have also been reported in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces of DRC, as well as neighboring Uganda, indicating a spreading trend.
As of May 24, the DRC had a cumulative total of 112 confirmed cases (including 11 deaths) and 906 suspected cases (including 223 suspected deaths), with one US citizen diagnosed after contact with the virus at a local medical facility.
Furthermore, Uganda has also reported 7 confirmed cases (including 1 death), all highly related to the DRC outbreak.
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that, to reduce the risk of imported Ebola cases, Taiwan is strengthening cross-agency security measures at its borders and enhancing port monitoring and interception mechanisms, effective immediately.
For travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, quarantine personnel will conduct enhanced TOCC (Travel, Occupation, Contact, and Cluster History) and health assessments.
All travelers must undergo 21 days of self-health management upon arrival.
Those assessed as potentially at risk of Ebola infection will be immediately transported by ambulance to contracted hospitals for examination, with simultaneous coordination with local health authorities for prevention and control efforts. The
CDC explained that the Ebola outbreak is currently experiencing a rapid surge, and the actual fatality rate is likely far higher than currently reported official figures.
This outbreak is occurring in a complex environment intertwined with security threats and humanitarian challenges.
The lack of approved vaccines and specific treatments for this type of virus, coupled with local political instability and high population mobility, has significantly increased the difficulty of epidemic prevention.
The WHO assesses that the actual scale of infections is likely far greater than the currently reported numbers, and has rated the risk level of the Democratic Republic of Congo as "very high," Uganda and surrounding areas as "high," and the global risk as "low."
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) assesses that the outbreak is still concentrated in these two countries, and the overall risk to Taiwan remains low.
However, considering the ease of international travel and global transportation, the possibility of imported cases cannot be completely ruled out.
Given the continued increase in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the emergence of community clusters, and the local cases in Uganda caused by imported cases, indicating that the outbreak is difficult to control and poses a risk of continued transmission, to protect the health of Taiwanese citizens, the travel advisory level for the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has been raised from Level 2 "Alert" to Level 3 "Warning" today.
Taiwanese citizens are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to these countries.
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated that, to strengthen border quarantine, in addition to enhancing public awareness through airport multimedia electronic billboards, scrolling displays, and signage, starting immediately, all international flights arriving in Taiwan will make in-flight announcements urging passengers who have traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda within the past 21 days to proactively report to the quarantine station upon arrival.
Quarantine personnel will conduct a TOCC (Transmission of Health and Commitment) and health assessment, and passengers are requested to cooperate with the following quarantine measures:
1. Passengers assessed as having suspected Ebola virus infection symptoms (fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or bleeding, etc.) will be immediately transported by ambulance to a contracted hospital for examination, and local health authorities will be coordinated in their prevention and control efforts.
2. Asymptomatic passengers will be issued a "Notice of Self-Health Management for Passengers with Travel History to Ebola-Epidemic Areas." Upon arrival, passengers are requested to cooperate with 21 days of self-health management, keep their phones accessible for contact tracing by health authorities, take their temperature twice daily (morning and evening), and report their health status to the "Public Proactive E-Reporting System." If you experience any of the above symptoms, please immediately call the epidemic prevention hotline 1922 for assistance from the health bureau to seek medical attention. Failure to cooperate with these measures will be punished in accordance with the Communicable Disease Control Act.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reiterates its appeal to the public to avoid traveling to Ebola-endemic areas unless absolutely necessary. If travel is unavoidable, please monitor your health closely and implement personal protective measures, including frequent handwashing, wearing a mask when coughing, and avoiding contact with or consumption of wild animals.
Upon arrival in Taiwan or during the 21-day self-health management period after returning home, if you experience any of the above-mentioned suspected Ebola virus infection symptoms, please be sure to proactively report to quarantine personnel or call the epidemic prevention hotline 1922 for assistance from health authorities to seek medical attention.
Source:
Link: https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/C_nhlkjwNLF4K_i3iNanKQ?typeid=9
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