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Press announcement

Supporting Employees Amid the Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region

Updated

Worker of center for disease control describing effects of ebola virus mutation

The Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to evolve, with geographic expansion in the DRC and imported infections reported in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria. Dr Chris van Straten, Global Health Advisor, Clinical Governance at International SOS, comments on the situation:

Bundibugyo Ebola is harder to contain because responders do not have the same licensed vaccines and treatments that are available for some other Ebola viruses. That puts more emphasis on the basics: fast detection, safe isolation, rigorous contact tracing, infection prevention in health facilities and trusted communication with communities. These imported cases underscore a basic reality of outbreak control in a connected region: borders are porous, but spread is not inevitable. The critical test is whether authorities can detect cases quickly, isolate patients safely, trace and monitor contacts, and communicate clearly enough to maintain public trust.

On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak affecting the DRC a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

International SOS is actively monitoring the evolving outbreak and assisting organizations to safeguard their people and operations. Clients should stay informed through our situational alerts, accessible via email, and International SOS Global Health Threats website. We recommend all organizations with employees in or traveling to DRC Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and neighboring countries to:

  • Monitor the situation, understand the risk of potential expansion of the outbreak and impacts on mobility.
  • Reinforce employee awareness routine hygiene measures.
  • Ensure employees are not travelling if sick, and know who to contact and how to access safe medical care if they do fall sick.

We remain committed to providing timely, verified and actionable information to enable informed decision-making in challenging environments.

For media queries, please refer to our media contacts page and contact the relevant media contact.

Subscribers can visit the International SOS Global Health Threat website for latest updates.

About the International SOS Group of Companies; 40 years of saving lives

The International SOS Group of Companies is in the business of protecting and saving lives. Wherever you are, we deliver customized security risk management, health and wellbeing solutions to fuel your growth and productivity. We uniquely combine industry-leading technology with expertise in security, medical and logistics to deliver risk prevention programs that offer real-time, actionable insights and on-the-ground support. In the event of a security incident, epidemic, extreme weather or any other business-disrupting event, we provide fast, industry-leading response and assistance capabilities, giving you and your workforce peace of mind.  

Founded in 1985, the International SOS Group has been saving lives for over 40 years. Headquartered in London and Singapore, we are trusted by over 9,000 organizations. This includes the majority of the Fortune Global 500, as well as mid-size enterprises, governments, educational institutions, and NGOs. Nearly 13,000 global experts stand with you to provide support and assistance from over 1,200 locations in 90 countries, in over 110 languages, 24/7, 365 days a year.

We help protect your people and your organization, as well as support your compliance reporting needs. By partnering with us, your organization can fulfil its Duty of Care responsibilities and fortify its business continuity.