*As a deadly outbreak of Ebola virus spreads in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on May 17, 2026, that it is transferring “a small number of Americans” who were in Congo and who were exposed to the virus.
Some of these exposures are classified as high-risk, and among them is an American doctor who has been evacuated to Germany, health officials said.
On May 18, the U.S. also announced a ban on people who have recently traveled to Ebola-affected countries from entering the country.
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak to be an international health emergency on May 17. However, the CDC says the risk to the United States remains low.
As an infectious disease scientist who has studied multiple epidemics around the world, I agree that this reassurance is justified. But one key aspect of this outbreak is highly concerning: There is more than one Ebola virus, and this outbreak is caused by one for which the world has no vaccine.
Source: Ebola Strain Spreading in Congo and Uganda Has No Approved Vaccine
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