Ebola and Marburg: returning workers scheme (RWS)

The Returning Workers Scheme (RWS) applies to any organisation that has UK-resident staff who have been or will be deployed to areas affected by Ebola or Marburg virus where they may be directly exposed to these viruses through their work.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) RWS was established in November 2014 as part of arrangements to protect and monitor the health of those who travel to Ebola-affected areas for their work. This scheme now forms part of the UK arrangements to support and monitor the health of those who travel to high-consequence infectious-disease-affected areas for their work, once they are back in the UK.

To ensure that UKHSA is able to establish prompt and efficient screening arrangements and can provide organisations with regular updates and guidance, we ask that:

For the DRC, the RWS applies to all workers returning from affected areas (see Ebola and Marburg haemorrhagic fevers: outbreaks and case locations - GOV.UK), including those working in health, humanitarian, government, private-sector and other roles. Additionally, it also applies to all health and humanitarian workers returning from anywhere in the DRC, including areas not currently designated as affected.