Brandi Lea Bergren of Colorado Springs cancelled her planned trip to Uganda this month due to risks associated with an Ebola outbreak [1].
The decision highlights the immediate impact of regional health crises on international travel and the cautious approach taken by humanitarian organizers during viral outbreaks.
Bergren, the founder of Heal and Thrive Global, had organized 45 planned trips to Uganda [2]. She decided to cancel the travel after evaluating the proximity of the virus to the regions she intended to visit. The Ebola cases were located approximately eight hours away from her destination [3].
Health officials have been monitoring the situation closely. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began monitoring the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda earlier this month and provided assistance to local authorities [4].
The outbreak has had a severe toll on the region. There are 223 suspected deaths resulting from the virus in the DRC and Uganda [5]. The World Health Organization said that efforts to contain the deadly virus have been hindered by ongoing conflict in the area [5].
Bergren's decision to prioritize safety over the scheduled visits reflects a broader trend of risk mitigation for non-governmental organizations operating in high-risk zones. The distance of eight hours between the infected areas and her planned itinerary was not deemed sufficient to guarantee the safety of the travelers, and the local populations they intended to serve [3].
“Brandi Lea Bergren cancelled her planned trip to Uganda this month due to risks associated with an Ebola outbreak.”
The cancellation of these trips underscores the volatility of humanitarian work in Central Africa, where health emergencies and geopolitical conflict often intersect. When outbreaks occur in regions with limited infrastructure, the perceived risk often outweighs the operational capacity of small organizations, leading to a suspension of aid and travel that can further isolate affected communities.
