Russia Introduces Border Health Screenings in Response to Ebola Outbreak

May 27, 2026

Russia’s consumer protection agency said Wednesday that it has introduced enhanced health screenings for travelers arriving from African countries hit by a deadly Ebola outbreak.

“Sanitary and quarantine screening has been stepped up at checkpoints along Russia’s state border to monitor the health of citizens arriving from high-risk regions,” Rospotrebnadzor said in a statement.

“As of today, there are zero risks of Ebola spreading within Russian territory,” the agency said, adding that there have been no imported cases of the virus recorded in Russia since the outbreak began in mid-May.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” after hundreds of suspected cases and dozens of deaths were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and two deaths in neighboring Uganda.

The African Union’s health agency warned this week that nearly 1,000 cases have been confirmed so far, putting more countries on the continent at immediate risk.

Ebola is a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, often causing severe bleeding and organ failure.

Rospotrebnadzor said it deployed teams of Russian scientists to Uganda, the DRC and Burundi to help combat the spread of Ebola, including by providing testing systems.

“As part of bilateral cooperation, the agency is providing advisory, methodological and practical assistance to African countries in combating the spread of Ebola,” Rospotrebnadzor said.

AFP contributed reporting.

Read more about: Africa , Health , Rospotrebnadzor

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribe Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription.

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today?
Remind me later. ×

Remind me next month