Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Published:
September 22, 2025

What You Need To Know

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Advisory regarding a recently confirmed outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Kasai Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) outbreak is caused by the Zaire virus/Orthoebolavirus zairense species of Ebola virus.  

A Level One travel advisory has been issued for the DRC, with CDC recommending travelers to affected areas to avoid contact with ill people and monitor themselves for symptoms of EVD for 21 days after leaving. 

At this time, no EVD cases have been reported outside of DRC, and the risk of infection with Ebola virus in the US is low. The majority of febrile travelers presenting to US healthcare facilities do not have a VHF (such as Ebola) but because many early symptoms (fever, chills, myalgia, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting) may be similar to other more common febrile illnesses, NJDOH recommends the following to healthcare providers:  

  1. Screen all individuals with acute febrile illness for recent international travel and flag the EHR to enable appropriate assessment of patients who have recently visited areas with VHF outbreaks.
  2. Systematically assess patients with compatible symptoms for exposure risk to VHF/EVD according to CDC guidance. 
  3. Isolate any patient with EVD-compatible symptoms who also has epidemiological risk factors for EVD exposure in the past 21 days and immediately report the suspect case to the local health department. If the local health department is not available, notify the NJDOH Communicable Disease Service at 609-826-5964 (or 609-392-2020 after hours).
  4. Pursue routine testing to monitor the patient’s clinical status and diagnostic testing for other potential causes of illness, according to guidance, while evaluation for a VHF is underway. 
  5. Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow all recommended infection control measures while assessing and caring for a patient with suspected EVD. Infection Prevention and Control guidance and PPE guidance for EVD and other VHFs can be found at the CDC’s Viral Hemorrhagic Fever website.  

If a patient is suspected of having EVD, NJDOH will provide further guidance on EVD testing and treatment. 

Click here for the CDC HAN Advisory for more details.