Recommendations for the Prevention and Control of Ebola Virus Disease

On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola (Bundibugyo) outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda to be a "public health emergency of international concern". Recently, the General Administration of Customs of China issued a notice to prevent the introduction of Ebola virus disease into China. In order to control the associated risks, the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) issues the following recommendations:

1. People arriving or returning to China from countries and regions at risk of epidemics, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, in the recent period, must carry out personal health surveillance for 21 days from the date of their entry into the territory. If symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea or bleeding of unknown origin appear, it is essential to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Before going to the doctor, it is recommended that you contact the local centre for disease control and prevention or the community health services centre by phone for professional advice. When travelling by own means, public transport should be avoided as much as possible, personal protective measures should be strictly adhered to and physical contact with others should be avoided. During the consultation, it is imperative to spontaneously inform the doctor of your history of travel abroad, any potential exposures, and other relevant information.

2. When consulting patients in health facilities of all levels and categories, if the patient presents symptoms suggestive of Ebola virus disease such as fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea or hemorrhage of unknown origin, the doctor should systematically inquire about his or her history of travel abroad, where they are staying and any potential exposure. In addition, as soon as a patient is identified as a person who has returned from countries or regions at risk of epidemics (such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda) or a foreign national from these areas, the doctor must report the case without delay to the public health department of the health facility as well as to the local center for disease control and prevention.

3. The list of countries and regions affected by the current Ebola outbreak is subject to change; it is therefore recommended to follow the updated information published by the World Health Organization. These prevention and control recommendations also apply to any new country or region where the Ebola outbreak is subsequently declared.