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Democratic Republic of the Congo
Health Overview
Key Health Risks
Health Risk Callout
Other Health Risks
Regional Information
Vaccine and Malaria Prevention
- Risk Level: High
- Areas: All areas of DRC
- Recommended Drug: Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone); doxycycline; mefloquine; tafenoquine (G6PD testing required before prescribing)
- Drug Resistance: Yes
The DRC has the highest absolute malaria case burden globally. P. falciparum is present throughout the entire country with chloroquine resistance. Malaria prophylaxis is mandatory for all travelers to any part of the country. Any febrile illness within 12 months of return from the DRC must be evaluated immediately for malaria.
Physician Note
The DRC is one of the most medically demanding destinations on this platform. It sits at the intersection of every major tropical infectious disease — highest malaria burden globally, active Clade I mpox, a fresh meningococcal outbreak in Kongo Central as of March 2026, and poliovirus circulation. The thing that changes clinical outcomes here is the meningococcal vaccine — I am seeing this outbreak now, and meningitis in a resource-limited setting kills fast.
Make sure your travelers are vaccinated with MenACWY plus MenB before they go. On malaria: the DRC has the world's highest absolute case burden, and chloroquine resistance is complete. Atovaquone-proguanil is my first choice here for most travelers; it's the cleanest agent in terms of compliance and side effects.
For Kinshasa-based business travelers watching cost, doxycycline is a solid alternative. The mpox situation requires specific counseling — Clade I is more severe than what we saw in the 2022 global outbreak. Healthcare outside Kinshasa essentially doesn't exist.
Clinique Ngaliema in Kinshasa is the reference point. Beyond that, you're looking at evacuation to Johannesburg. Be sure to consult your Dr.
prior to travel to discuss
Pre-Departure Checklist
8+ Weeks
- Be sure to consult your Dr. prior to travel to discuss
- CDC recommends Yellow fever vaccine (required — 10-day lead required
- Bring the card)
- Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY and MenB given active outbreak)
- Hepatitis A complete series
- Hepatitis B series
- Typhoid
- Polio booster
- Begin malaria prophylaxis consultation
- Consider rabies pre-exposure series if wildlife or animal exposure anticipated
- JYNNEOS mpox vaccine if eligible and at risk.
2-4 Weeks
- Confirm medevac insurance with named provider
- Cholera vaccine if indicated
- Obtain doxycycline or atovaquone-proguanil prescription
- Assemble field medical kit
- Bring all medications from home in original packaging with prescriptions
- NOTE: Active Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease outbreak in Ituri and Nord-Kivu provinces (CDC Level 2 Watch May 18 2026) — avoid all travel to these provinces if possible.
Day Of
- Start atovaquone-proguanil per schedule
- Carry yellow fever card separately from passport (required at border)
- Confirm emergency contact at Clinique Ngaliema
- Carry US Embassy emergency number
- Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak active in Ituri and Nord-Kivu — avoid all contact with sick individuals and bodily fluids in these provinces.
Trip Type Guidance
Mission travel: DRC has an enormous mission and humanitarian presence, particularly in Kinshasa, the Kasai region, and historically eastern provinces. Teams need vetted local hosts, written medevac plans, full prophylaxis including meningococcal vaccine given the active outbreak, and mpox awareness protocols. Eastern DRC provinces are off-limits for civilian mission work.
