International Travel Advisory Reminder for Rice Travelers

May 22, 2026

Dear faculty, staff and students,

As you may have heard through the news media, the U.S. State Department has elevated travel advisories for both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Level 4, “Do Not Travel,” as health officials respond to an Ebola outbreak centered in Ituri Province in eastern DRC. The advisory also cites ongoing civil unrest and heightened health screening measures at border crossings and transportation hubs throughout the region.

To date, no cases of Ebola have been confirmed in the United States because of this outbreak and the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Crisis24, Rice’s global risk management and travel assistance provider, has also issued an alert warning travelers of possible delays, enhanced screenings and travel disruptions at airports and border entry points in DRC and Uganda as well as the Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Kenya and South Sudan. This includes a recent Title 42 order that restricts re-entry for individuals with non-U.S. passports.

This development provides a timely reminder that before you travel internationally, Rice Policy 852 requires all Rice-affiliated international travel to be entered into the Rice Travel Registry, which also adds your trip to the Crisis24 Horizon platform. Personal international travel is encouraged to be registered as well.

Crisis24 services include:

  • 24/7 hotline support through Crisis24
  • Medical and security assistance abroad
  • Crisis response and evacuation support
  • Real-time alerts on threats and disruptions based on your location
  • Risk intelligence for countries, provinces and cities worldwide

 

To access the Crisis24 Horizon platform, log in using your NetID email address and Rice Single Sign-On credentials via the Crisis24 Horizon app or Crisis24 website. For additional information and FAQs, visit Rice Global’s info page on Crisis24.

All members of the Rice community are also encouraged to sign up for Rice Alert emergency notifications.

Thank you for your support, and safe travels,

Juliana Crim, Global Travel Safety Manager