The United States has temporarily suspended visa operations at its embassies in three African countries severely affected by the ongoing Ebola outbreak. Effective May 18, 2026, all visa services have been paused at the US embassies in Juba, South Sudan; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; and Kampala, Uganda.
The suspension covers both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories, including tourist, business, student, and exchange visitor visas. Applicants whose appointments were impacted have already been informed directly by the embassies.
According to the US State Department, the decision was taken as part of emergency public health measures linked to the Ebola outbreak. The department stated that the move is aimed at maintaining “the highest standards for US public health and safety” during the crisis. At present, no new visa appointments can be scheduled at any of the three embassies.
Officials clarified that visa application fees will not be refunded. However, nonimmigrant visa fees will remain valid for 365 days from the date of payment, allowing applicants to reschedule once visa services resume. Existing valid US visas remain unaffected by the temporary suspension.
The visa restrictions come amid a broader international response after the World Health Organisation declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a global health emergency. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also confirmed that an American aid worker in the DRC tested positive for Ebola following work-related exposure.
The infected individual reportedly developed symptoms over the weekend and later tested positive. US authorities are currently arranging medical evacuation to Germany for treatment, while six additional individuals are being transported for health monitoring and observation.
Alongside the embassy suspensions, the CDC announced fresh entry restrictions for non-US passport holders who have travelled to Uganda, the DRC, or South Sudan within the past 21 days. Enhanced airport screening measures have also been introduced for travellers arriving from affected regions.
The United States has additionally committed USD 13 million toward immediate outbreak response efforts, including containment operations, contact tracing, and laboratory testing support. Despite the growing concerns, the CDC stated that the immediate risk to the general US public currently remains low, though authorities continue to closely monitor the evolving situation.
The Ebola outbreak has already raised major concerns globally due to the absence of an approved vaccine or targeted treatment for the strain currently spreading in the region. Latest figures released by Congolese Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba indicate that at least 91 suspected deaths and nearly 350 suspected infections have been reported so far. A majority of those affected are between 20 and 39 years old, with women accounting for more than 60 percent of cases.
Meanwhile, the US response has also triggered criticism from some global health experts. Matthew Kavanagh, director of Georgetown University’s Centre for Global Health Policy and Politics, reportedly argued that travel restrictions alone may not be the most effective solution and suggested that stronger international public health coordination is needed to contain the outbreak effectively.
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