The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its Rwanda and Mauritius travel advice on 4 September 2026 with measures tied to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On Rwanda, the FCDO says the Rwandan Government has introduced health-screening measures at Kigali International Airport and border restrictions with the DRC in response to the outbreak, and that these measures may change quickly. On Mauritius, the FCDO updated its guidance with information on Ebola and on travelling from Reunion Island.
The outbreak itself is centred on the DRC. The World Health Organization records a Bundibugyo species Ebola outbreak declared in May 2026, affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, treated as a public health emergency. WHO notes there is no vaccine or specific treatment licensed for this species, though candidates are being tested, and describes a challenging environment of humanitarian crisis, insecurity and high population movement.
For operators, the operational effect is regional rather than confined to the epicentre. Screening at Kigali, border restrictions and evolving entry rules across neighbouring states can delay movement, disrupt routing and complicate contingency planning for any East or Central African tasking. Measures are changing quickly, so confirm current entry and screening requirements with local authorities and carriers immediately before travel rather than relying on a plan set days earlier.
