A health worker takes a woman's temperature as part of Ebola screening efforts in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, June 24, 2026. (Photo: CFP)

The United States has urged its citizens not to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to the worsening Ebola outbreak.

In a recent travel advisory, the US government told US citizens who travel to the DR Congo and are exposed to Ebola that they could be required to quarantine outside the United States for up to 21 days at their own expense.

The statement further says that the US government has established a voluntary process to ensure access to appropriate life-saving medical care for US citizens who may have been exposed to the virus while in the DR Congo.

The advisory follows the confirmation that a US humanitarian worker in the DR Congo tested positive for Ebola. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it is working with Congolese authorities and international partners to trace contacts and prevent further spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, health authorities continue efforts to contain one of the region's most serious Ebola outbreaks. The CDC has also introduced enhanced health screening for US citizens returning from affected areas while maintaining temporary entry restrictions for certain travelers who have recently visited outbreak zones.

In its latest update, the DR Congo reported Ebola cases in five provinces, bringing the nationwide total to 1,873 confirmed cases, including 672 deaths.