State Department Issued Level 3 Travel Advisory for The Democratic Republic of Congo

The US State Department issued a Level 3 Travel Advisory on September 19, 2018, for visitors to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to crime and civil unrest.

This Travel Advisory says future travelers should ‘Reconsider Travel’ to the DRC, due to increased risks.

‘The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Kinshasa due to extremely limited infrastructure and poor security conditions, notably in eastern DRC and Kasais’ reported this State Department Advisory. 

Previously, on September 14, 2018, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued 3 separate Travel Alerts for the DRC.

CDC Level 1 and 2 Travel Alerts mean international travelers should speak with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist before visiting the DRC to learn if you are up to date with the required vaccinations, whether you need a booster dose and if you should bring preventative medicines with you.

These CDC Travel Alerts focus on Ebola, Measles, and Polio outbreaks.

Most concerning to the CDC is the ongoing Ebola outbreak in North Kivu province, which started on August 2, 2018.

A total of 142 cases of hemorrhagic fever were reported, 111 confirmed and 31 probable. Of the 111 confirmed, 66 died and 38 are cured, as of September 17th. 

DRC health officials have said they are testing several experimental Ebola vaccines to reduce future fatalities. 

Additionally, the CDC is cautioning DRC visitors to the ongoing spreading of Yellow Fever and Zika viruses. 

Specifically, the CDC says a Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. Therefore, pregnant women should not travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Partners of pregnant women and couples planning pregnancy should know the possible risks of pregnancy and take preventive steps.

The CDC says vaccinations offer the best protection from most infectious diseases.

International travelers can easily request a vaccination appointment with a pharmacy at Vax-Before-Travel.

And US citizens can enroll to receive alerts from the US Embassy at this link.