[Ebola outbreak] Is travel in Africa dangerous? Unpacking travel insurance exclusion traps

Many Hong Kong residents have placed “seeing the great animal migration in Africa” on their bucket lists. However, on 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”, adding uncertainty to the upcoming peak African travel season. In fact, the outbreak has developed rapidly; by mid-May 2026, the Congo had reported more than 100 suspected and confirmed Ebola cases, and there had already been a confirmed fatal case involving cross-border transmission to Uganda.

In response to the latest outbreak developments, the Hong Kong SAR Government issued a Red Outbound Travel Alert for the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 21 May, strongly advising the public to avoid travelling there unless necessary. In addition, the Government has activated the “Alert” response level and strengthened health screening at the airport for passengers arriving in Hong Kong from Africa, particularly those transiting via Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. From 17 to 20 May, 11 travellers who reported having been to the relevant areas underwent health assessments.

If you are planning to travel to Africa (such as Kenya or Tanzania) to see the great animal migration, or are preparing to travel to Africa, this article sets out the latest travel precautions and an essential guide to insurance claims!

The Great Migration is regarded as one of the world’s great natural wonders, and is mainly concentrated in Tanzania and Kenya in East Africa:

• Kenya (Maasai Mara National Reserve): the best time for viewing is from July to October each year.
• Tanzania (Serengeti National Park): December to February, and April to May each year. 

Travel preparation notes:

• Vaccinations: before departure, please ensure you are assessed at the Department of Health Travel Health Centre or a clinic. Yellow Fever is an acute viral infectious disease transmitted by mosquito bites, and is mainly prevalent in Africa and Central and South America. Although a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate (the yellow booklet) is not currently mandatory for entry into Kenya and Tanzania from Hong Kong, it is recommended, for personal protection, to receive the Yellow Fever vaccination at least 10 days before departure (not the Ebola virus vaccine). Other commonly recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, as well as anti-malarial medication.
• Equipment: bring light long-sleeved clothing to guard against mosquitoes and insects, sunglasses, sun protection items and binoculars. A telephoto lens is essential for photography enthusiasts. 

At present, the Hong Kong Security Bureau has officially issued a Red Outbound Travel Alert for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while no warning has yet been issued for Uganda. If the outbreak spreads, the alert coverage may expand at any time. Below are the claims rules for travel insurance that Hong Kong residents must know:

Four key benefits under a red or black travel alert

• Trip cancellation: non-recoverable deposits may be reimbursed before departure.
• Trip curtailment (or trip interruption): prepaid expenses and additional transport costs for an early return to Hong Kong while overseas.
• Travel delay: cash compensation is usually provided for flight delays exceeding 6 hours.
• Medical and emergency assistance: medical and emergency assistance may come into effect if you unfortunately contract an infectious disease or are placed in quarantine. 

Whether an insurer will pay a claim even if the Hong Kong Security Bureau issues a Red or Black Outbound Travel Alert mainly depends on the policy terms, in particular whether there is a “pandemic/epidemic exclusion clause” and how it is defined. On 17 May this year, the WHO classified Ebola as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC). Although it has not yet constituted a “pandemic”, some policies define “epidemic” more broadly and may not limit it to a pandemic. Policyholders should pay particular attention to the relevant terms.

The following is the classification of several Hong Kong insurance companies: 

1. Pay attention to your body temperature and health: there are currently no direct flights from Hong Kong to the Congo or Uganda, but if you transit via Ethiopia to Kenya or Tanzania, you will need to undergo temperature monitoring and health screening upon returning to Hong Kong.
2. Buy insurance as early as possible: travel insurance is only valid if purchased before a “known risk” arises (such as when the WHO declares a pandemic or the government issues an advisory). If you buy Category A travel insurance now, and Kenya or Tanzania later experiences an outbreak and receives a red/black advisory, the policyholder is likely to be covered.
3. Take proper protective measures: if you are travelling to the East African savannah, in addition to mosquito protection, avoid contact with dead wild animals and raw local meat. If you develop a fever, vomiting or bleeding after returning to Hong Kong, seek medical attention immediately and disclose your travel history.
4. If the local outbreak is too severe, it is advisable not to go: once the destination or neighbouring countries experience community transmission, medical resources become strained, or the Hong Kong Government raises the warning level to red/black, you should reassess your itinerary and even consider cancelling it. Even if you have travel insurance, the actual costs and risks of infection or compulsory quarantine in a high-risk situation remain very high. There may also be uncontrollable factors such as flight cancellations and border closures, which will affect your return arrangements. Safety always comes before the itinerary. 

Further reading:
Which travel insurance is best? Experts share 10 key details you should check before choosing travel insurance 
[Annual travel insurance comparison] Which annual plan scores highest? When is the best time to buy?

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.