UPDATE: Ebola Disease Outbreak Returning Traveler Notifications – May 2026
Dear Colleagues,
Benton County Health Department is sharing the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Health Alert Network (HAN) related to the Ebola disease outbreak returning traveler notifications. To date, Ebola exposure risk in Oregon and the United States is low. OHA’s full HAN can be reviewed below.
Thank you for your continued vigilance and service to protect community health.
On May 19, 2026, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) distributed a CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to alert clinicians, public health practitioners, and travelers about a new outbreak of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda caused by the Ebola Bundibugyo virus.
Effective May 21, all individuals who have been in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival in the United States must only enter through Washington Dulles International Airport for enhanced public health entry screening. CDC has also implemented returning traveler notifications. Any individuals returning to Oregon will be monitored for new symptoms by public health for 21 days after leaving affected countries. Regional health care systems will be immediately alerted to any high-risk individuals returning to their area.
The risk of spread to Oregon and the United States is considered very low at this time.
Resources:
- CDC Health Alert Network Ebola Disease Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
- What Travelers Need to Know About Returning to the United States from DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan
- CDC Ebola Disease: Current Situation
- Oregon Health Authority Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Investigative Guidelines
For questions, please contact Melissa Sutton at the Oregon Health Authority.
This Health Alert Notice was sent to Hospitals, Infection Preventionists, Tribes, Local Public Health Officers and Administrators, Public Health and Health Care Preparedness Coordinators and Public Information Officers, select OHA staff and other health partners.
Unless otherwise noted, feel free to share this HAN notification with:
- Others within your organization.
- Professionals within your health, preparedness, and response affiliations.
Oregon 24/7 disease reporting: 971-673-1111
A printable PDF version of this Health Advisory is available for download below.
Related Services and Info
For Healthcare Providers
Find information and resources about critical health news, disease reporting guidelines, and recent Health Alerts, Advisories and Updates.