Update

2026 Ebola Outbreak in East and Central Africa 

CDC is responding to an outbreak of Ebola disease in remote areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. To date, no cases of Ebola disease have been identified in the U.S. because of this outbreak. The overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low.

On May 18, 2026, CDC and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security implemented enhanced travel screening, entry restrictions, and public health measures to prevent Ebola virus disease from entering the U.S.

Read more about the current situation (CDC)

Health Advisory for Healthcare Providers (May 22, 2026)

Updated: May 22, 2026

Ebola

Ebola virus disease (EVD), commonly called Ebola, is a rare but serious disease caused by infection with an Ebola virus. Outbreaks have occurred primarily in parts of Central and West Africa. Ebola is sometimes called Ebola hemorrhagic fever.

Key Facts

  • The risk to the general public in Vermont is very low. 
  • Ebola does not spread easily like respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, flu, or measles.
  • You can't get Ebola from someone who does not have symptoms.
  • Public health officials may monitor travelers returning from areas with Ebola outbreaks as a precaution.
  • There is an FDA-approved vaccine for prevention of Ebola. Vaccination is recommended for U.S. adults 18 years and older who are at potential risk of exposure. 
Travelers to the U.S. from Impacted Areas

Travelers to the U.S. from areas with Ebola outbreaks may be contacted by public health officials and asked to monitor for symptoms for 21 days after travel.

If you develop symptoms after traveling to an area with an Ebola outbreak, stay away from others, contact a health care provider right away, and call before going to a clinic or hospital so staff can prepare safely.

 

Prevention

To help reduce the likelihood of Ebola infection:

  • Avoid contact with blood or body fluids of people who are sick.
  • Avoid contact with wild animals, including bats and nonhuman primates, in areas with Ebola outbreaks.
  • Follow public health guidance when traveling internationally.
  • Wash hands regularly with soap and water.
Symptoms

Symptoms usually begin 2 to 21 days after exposure and may include:

  • Fever 
  • Headache 
  • Muscle pain or weakness 
  • Vomiting or diarrhea 
  • Stomach pain 
  • Unexplained bleeding or bruising 

Early symptoms can look similar to many other illnesses.

How it Spreads

Ebola spreads through direct contact with:

  • Blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with Ebola 
  • Objects contaminated with infected body fluids 
  • Infected animals 

People are not contagious before symptoms begin.

Ebola is not spread through:

  • Air 
  • Water 
  • Food in the U.S. 
Information for Healthcare Providers

Immediately contact the Health Department at 802-863-7240 (24/7) if Ebola is suspected.

Consider Ebola in patients who:

  • Have compatible symptoms, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, abdominal pain, or unexplained bleeding

and

  • Traveled to an area with an Ebola outbreak or had exposure to a person with Ebola within 21 days before symptoms began

If Ebola is suspected:

  • Isolate the patient in a private room
  • Use appropriate infection prevention precautions, including gown, gloves, facemask, and eye protection
  • Limit unnecessary staff exposure

Resources

Other Global Infectious Diseases

Some infectious diseases are now rare in Vermont. Or they don't pose the serious threat that they once did. This is thanks to public health measures like vaccination, safe food and water practices, and disease monitoring. However, illnesses that are uncommon in the U.S. can still be brought into the country through international travel.

Public health surveillance systems help detect infectious diseases early, so that health officials can respond quickly and prevent further spread. Ongoing efforts such as vaccination, emergency preparedness, laboratory testing, and disease investigation help protect Vermonters and reduce the risk of outbreaks or the re-emergence of diseases that had previously been under control.

Travel Health Notices (CDC) 

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an illness caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacterium. The bacterium infects the lining of the respiratory system and releases toxins that cause weakness, sore throat, fever, and swollen glands in the neck. The toxin kills healthy tissues in the respiratory system, which then build up in the throat and nose making it difficult to breathe and swallow. The toxin can also get into the blood stream and cause damage to the heart, kidneys, and nerves. Even with appropriate treatment, diphtheria is fatal in about 10% of infected people. Diphtheria is rare in industrialized countries, including the U.S, but continues to occur in other parts of the world, particularly in tropical countries.

Diphtheria is preventable by vaccine. Learn more about diphtheria vaccinations.

Resources
MERS-CoV

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by the MERS coronavirus (CoV) that was first reported in the Arabian Peninsula in 2012. Most people with MERS-CoV develop acute respiratory illness with a fever, cough and shortness of breath. Around 35% of confirmed cases of MERS-CoV have been fatal. People can protect themselves from respiratory illnesses such as MERS-CoV by washing their hands often, avoiding touching their face with unwashed hands, avoiding close contact with people who appear sick, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

There have been no confirmed cases of MERS-CoV in Vermont. There were two confirmed cases of MERS-CoV in the United States in 2014. These are the only two patients in the U.S. that have ever tested positive for MERS-CoV infection while more than 750 have tested negative.

For more information:
Polio

Poliomyelitis, or polio, is a crippling and potentially deadly disease caused by the poliovirus.

While most people who get infected with poliovirus have no visible symptoms, one out of four will experience flu-like symptoms.

A small number of people who are infected with poliovirus will develop more serious symptoms that affect the brain and spinal cord. These symptoms include paresthesia or a feeling of pins and needles in the legs; meningitis, an infection of the covering of the spinal cord and/or brain; paralysis, not being able to move parts of the body; and weakness in the arms and/or legs. Paralysis is the most severe symptom associated with polio because it can lead to permanent disability and death.

People can get poliovirus from person-to-person contact. Polio spreads through contact with feces or through the droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person. People who do not have symptoms can still pass the virus and make people sick.

While polio is very contagious, the United States has been polio-free since 1979, thanks to effective vaccines. Because of this success, the Health Department recommends that parents follow the vaccination schedule.

For more information:
Rubella

Rubella, also called German Measles, is a contagious disease caused by a virus.

The first sign of rubella is usually a red rash appearing on the face and then spreading to the rest of the body. Other symptoms that may occur 1 to 5 days before the rash appears include low-grade fever, headaches, mild pink eye, discomfort, swollen and enlarged lymph nodes, cough, and runny nose.

Up to half of the people infected with rubella will not show any symptoms. Rubella spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Also, if a woman is infected with rubella while she is pregnant, she can pass the virus to her developing baby.

Since 2004, rubella is no longer constantly present in the United States. However, vaccination against rubella is still recommended since it remains a problem in other parts of the world and cases in the U.S. still occur in people who have lived or traveled outside of the United States.

Congenital Rubella Syndrome and other pregnancy risks with rubella:

Rubella is very dangerous for a pregnant woman and her developing baby. Mothers who are not vaccinated against rubella are at risk of getting the disease. Pregnant women who get rubella, especially in the first 12 weeks, are at risk of miscarriage or stillbirth, and their developing babies are at risk of serious birth defects.

The most common birth defects from congenital rubella syndrome are deafness, cataracts, heart defects, intellectual disabilities, liver and spleen damage, low birth weight, and skin rash at birth. Less common complications include glaucoma, brain damage, thyroid and other hormone problems, and inflammation of the lungs.

While it is important to get vaccinated against rubella before pregnancy, the Health Department recommends that mothers do not receive the rubella vaccine during pregnancy or four weeks before getting pregnant.

For more information:
Tetanus

Tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani that lives everywhere in the environment, including soil, dust, and manure. The bacteria usually enter the body through broken skin such as puncture wounds, open wounds and burns. Most illnesses happen within 14 days of infection, although dirty wounds can lead to more severe disease in a shorter amount of time.

Tetanus is often called “lockjaw” because the most common first sign is a spasm of the muscles of the jaw, where the person cannot open their mouth. Other symptoms of tetanus include headache, painful muscle stiffness, trouble swallowing, jerking or staring, fever and sweating, high blood pressure and fast heart rate, and difficulty breathing which can lead to death in severe cases.

Tetanus is preventable by vaccine. Learn more about tetanus vaccination

For more information:
Topics:
Infectious Diseases
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