Madagascar: 21-Day Quarantine for Travelers Who Have Been in Kenya, Nigeria or DR Congo

November 3, 2026 — Madagascar has brought in a mandatory 21-day quarantine with health monitoring for foreign travelers who have been in, or transited through, Kenya, Nigeria or the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 21 days before arriving. The rules took effect on November 1, 2026, according to an official public health notice reported by Pulse Kenya on November 2.

The new rules

• Who is affected: All foreign nationals who stayed in or passed through Kenya, Nigeria or DR Congo within 21 days of arrival. Transit counts, so a connection through Nairobi is enough to trigger the rules.
• Entry curbs: Exemptions from the entry restrictions are limited to Malagasy nationals, foreign residents holding a valid work or student visa, and authorized diplomats or staff of international organizations and NGOs. Even exempt travelers must complete the quarantine.
• Costs: Kenya Airways passengers must pay for their own quarantine accommodation, meals and transfers, according to the airline’s advisory as reported by Pulse.
• Effective: November 1, 2026. End date: TBA. No flight suspensions were reported.

Background: Kenya’s Ebola cluster

Kenya has confirmed nine cases of Ebola (Bundibugyo strain), including two deaths, all in a single cluster linked to a man who fell ill in DR Congo and flew to Nairobi from Entebbe on October 3. No new case has been reported since October 19, and Kenya’s health ministry says there is no evidence of community spread. Five patients were discharged on November 3, and the remaining 52 contacts under observation are due to finish monitoring by November 11 if they stay well. The outbreak can only be declared over 42 days after the last patient recovers or dies.

Other countries have also restricted travel from Kenya, including Saudi Arabia (entry ban from October 30 for anyone who was in Kenya within 21 days, including via third countries), El Salvador, and Kuwait. Kenya’s health minister has called the Saudi and Kuwaiti measures “disproportionate.”

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The CDC’s Travel Health Notices page did not list a Kenya-specific Ebola notice when we checked today; its current Ebola notices cover parts of DR Congo and Uganda.

What it means for airline travelers

• If you are planning a trip to Madagascar, avoid routing through Nairobi (or Lagos or Kinshasa) — a single connection could mean three weeks in quarantine at your own expense. Routings via Paris, Johannesburg, Mauritius, Addis Ababa or the Gulf avoid the rule, as long as you have not been in the three listed countries in the past 21 days.
• Standby travelers should not risk a Nairobi connection to Antananarivo: the quarantine is decided on arrival, not at the gate.
• If you have recently been in Kenya, check the latest rules for your next destination before flying; several countries now screen or bar travelers who were there in the past 21 days.
• For health advice, read the CDC and Public Health Agency of Canada notices and talk to your doctor before travel.

Sources

• Pulse Kenya: Madagascar imposes 21-day quarantine and entry curbs on travelers from Kenya amid Ebola concerns (Nov. 2, 2026)
• Pulse Kenya: Five Ebola patients discharged in Kenya as 46 more contacts complete quarantine (Nov. 3, 2026)
• CDC: Travel Health Notices