Impact of Ebola on 2027 Team Deployment

• Preparation for a team deployment takes many months, thus we are proceeding with our usual application process and deadline of September 15th.

• We will not go if the State Department “Level 4 – Do not travel” advisory remains in effect.

• We will make the go/no go decision no later than November 1st.

• Checks for the team deposit will still be due no later than October 21st.

  • These checks will be held, not cashed, until November 1st.

  • They will be destroyed with photographic proof sent to you if the deployment is cancelled.

Information regarding Ebola in Uganda

We are monitoring the Ebola situation in Uganda closely. Here is basic information and links to websites for additional information.

• May 17, 2026: World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

• May 18, 2026: Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended travelers to Uganda take precautions to avoid exposure and monitor for symptoms while traveling and for 21 days after leaving.

• June 4, 2026: U.S. State Department issued a “Level 4 – Do not travel” advisory due to the Ebola outbreak.

The Uganda Ministry of Health has an excellent track record for managing and quelling Ebola. They have implemented Standard Operating Procedures and provided multiple resources for the public and healthcare workers.

Unfortunately, media reports often combine Uganda's numbers with data from the DRC and this has led to wild misbeliefs about the current situation In Uganda. The numbers from Uganda (below) are probably accurate; the numbers from DRC are likely under-reported for a variety of reasons.

Data for Uganda as of 2 July 2026 Uganda Ministry of Health Ebola Updates:

• Confirmed cases - 20

  • Imported (infected patients who traveled from DCR) – 15

  • Secondary (exposed to patients from DRC) – 5

• Status

  • Current admissions – 3

  • Deaths - 2

  • Recoveries - 15

  • Last new case - June 21 (WHO requires 42 days to declare a country Ebola free)

The WHO website provides valuable & credible information (scroll to Figure 4 for Uganda statistics).

Our local contacts, both laypeople and healthcare workers, assure us that the Uganda Ministry of Health is very transparent and Ebola is not impacting the general population beyond basic infection control measures. Healthcare teams from Uganda are currently serving in Congo to assist them in managing the outbreak.

We will not travel if Ebola is a concern. As a reminder, Ebola is not transmitted by droplet or airborne particles. It is spread by only contact with blood/body fluids of patients who are already ill and exhibiting symptoms. We have personal protective equipment and use standard precautions which include always avoiding contact with blood/body fluids.