Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease in Uganda
Level 4 - Avoid All Travel
Level 3 - Reconsider Nonessential Travel
Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions
Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions
Key points
- Uganda is experiencing an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD). BVD is a type of Ebola disease (a viral hemorrhagic fever) caused by infection with the Bundibugyo virus.
- No vaccines or specific treatments have been approved to prevent or treat BVD.
- Local health authorities in Uganda are conducting investigations to identify infected people and their contacts to prevent further transmission and educating communities and the public about the risks and dangers of BVD.
- If you travel to Uganda, you should:
- Review Health Information for Travelers to Uganda to find out about routine precautions travelers should take when traveling to Uganda.
- Consider getting travel insurance before you travel, including health and medical evacuation insurance, to cover yourself in case delays, injuries, or illnesses occur on your trip.
- Avoid contact with people who have symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and rash.
- Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids or objects that are contaminated with them.
- Avoid contact with bats, forest antelopes, nonhuman primates (e.g., monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas), and blood, fluids, or raw meat from these or unknown animals.
- Avoid going into areas where bats live, such as mines or caves.
- Monitor yourself for symptoms of BVD while in the outbreak area and for 21 days after leaving. If you develop fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising (a late stage of illness):
- Separate yourself from others (isolate) immediately.
- Do not travel.
- Contact local health authorities or a healthcare facility for advice. Calling ahead before going to a healthcare facility helps the facility prepare for your arrival, including contacting health authorities and taking any precautions needed to protect staff and other patients.
Traveler Information
- Health Information for Travelers to Uganda
- CDC Ebola Website
- Travel Health and Medical Evacuation Insurance
- Register with the U.S. Department of State
Clinician Information
- Post-Travel Evaluation to Rule Out Viral Special Pathogen Infection in the CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel
- Clinical Screening and Diagnosis for VHFs | Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs) | CDC
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs) for Healthcare Providers
Information for Organizations
What is Bundibugyo virus disease?
Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) is a rare and deadly illness that has caused outbreaks in several African countries in the past.
BVD is spread by contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is infected with or has died from BVD. It is also spread by contact with contaminated objects (such as clothing, bedding, needles, and medical equipment), or by contact with animals, such as bats and nonhuman primates, that are infected with BVD.
Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising (a late stage of illness).
There are no vaccines or specific treatments approved to prevent or treat BVD.