Ebola: Disease Control

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) assess the current risk to the United Kingdom’s population from the Ebola outbreak as low. The Government has advised against all but essential travel to the affected region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and travellers are advised to check the latest travel advice before travelling to the region.

The most effective way to protect the UK is to contain the outbreak at the source. We are working with international partners, including WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, to support a coordinated response and strengthen surveillance, containment, and preparedness. This includes the UK deploying experts from the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team to support and strengthen the national response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Information and advice are being provided to those travelling to the UK from the affected region, including through airport information screens at Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, and Birmingham, as well as St Pancras International railway station, and via in-flight announcements on direct flights from Uganda. There are no direct flights to the UK from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The UKHSA’s Returning Workers Scheme has been activated, providing pre-deployment advice and monitoring to UK residents on return from working in the affected areas. The NHS has existing clinical pathways in place to manage any potential cases. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and measures will be monitored and kept under review.