Updated 25/05/2026
The UK Health Security Agency has published guidance identifying countries worldwide where high consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) have known occurrence, according to official government guidance published on the government’s official portal. The guidance lists countries where diseases such as Ebola, Marburg virus, and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever have been documented.
Geographic Distribution of High Consequence Infectious Disease Risk
Based on UKHSA country listing
Source: UK Health Security Agency, 2024 | Georgian Medical Journal News
Sub-Saharan Africa Features Prominently
Many of the countries identified in the UKHSA guidance are located in Sub-Saharan Africa, where diseases like Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease have occurred. Countries including Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, and Sierra Leone are included on the UKHSA list due to documented HCID occurrence.
For healthcare professionals, understanding these risk patterns is crucial for patient assessment and infection control measures. Our comprehensive global health coverage provides ongoing analysis of international disease surveillance systems.
Travel Medicine Implications for Healthcare Providers
The UKHSA guidance impacts pre-travel consultations and post-travel screening protocols across healthcare systems. Healthcare providers must consider HCID exposure risks when assessing patients with recent travel history to countries listed in the guidance.
Clinical protocols may require enhanced surveillance for travelers returning from areas where HCIDs have known occurrence. This includes monitoring for symptoms and appropriate screening procedures for suspected cases.
Our clinical updates section tracks developments in diagnostic technologies and outbreak response capabilities across these regions.
Ongoing Disease Surveillance
The UKHSA guidance acknowledges that the country listing represents areas with known HCID occurrence based on available surveillance data. Strengthening global disease surveillance systems remains important, particularly in countries with limited laboratory capacity for pathogen identification.
Key takeaways
- UKHSA has published country-specific guidance on high consequence infectious disease occurrence
- Sub-Saharan Africa features prominently among countries with documented HCID occurrence
- The guidance impacts healthcare protocols for travelers from listed countries
- Healthcare providers should implement appropriate screening procedures for suspected cases
Frequently asked questions
What constitutes a high consequence infectious disease?
According to the UKHSA guidance, HCIDs are acute infectious diseases that pose significant public health risks and require immediate containment measures. Examples include Ebola, Marburg virus, and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.
How should healthcare providers respond to patients with travel history to listed countries?
Healthcare providers should conduct appropriate screening including symptom assessment and travel history documentation, following established clinical protocols for infectious disease surveillance.
The UKHSA’s country-specific guidance provides important information for healthcare systems regarding areas where high consequence infectious diseases have known occurrence, supporting ongoing disease surveillance and response planning.
Source: High consequence infectious disease: country specific risk
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Medically reviewed by Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD. Spotted an error? Contact the editorial team.
