U.S. Implements Mandatory Ebola Travel Attestations for International Passengers
The U.S. will require air travelers to attest they have not visited the DRC in the last 21 days to prevent Ebola entry. New CDC protocols begin November 3.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, U.S. — Federal authorities are intensifying efforts to block the entry of individuals potentially exposed to Ebola by mandating that all passengers flying to the United States confirm they have not visited the Democratic Republic of Congo within the previous 21 days.
This directive, outlined in a memo reviewed on Thursday, builds upon existing restrictions established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since May, the agency has prohibited travelers who visited the DRC—the epicenter of the 2026 outbreak—from entering the country, a policy that was expanded to include U.S. citizens in July.
Beginning November 3, the new CDC order mandates that every airline passenger bound for the U.S. must submit either a digital or paper-based attestation regarding their recent travel history. To ensure smooth implementation, the CDC has scheduled briefing sessions with both domestic and international carriers for Friday to clarify compliance procedures.
Airlines for America, the trade group representing major carriers including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, has not yet provided a statement regarding the new requirements.
Beyond the DRC, the CDC has maintained travel bans throughout the year for foreign nationals who have spent time in Uganda or South Sudan during the three weeks prior to their arrival. These measures address the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which circulated undetected for months before the outbreak was officially declared in May.
The virus, which currently lacks an approved vaccine or treatment, is fatal in approximately half of all cases. According to data from the Africa CDC, the outbreak has resulted in roughly 4,700 deaths across the continent, with recent reports noting the burial of a mother and infant as the death toll reached 4,000.
Despite the severity of the situation abroad, the CDC confirmed that there have been no reported cases of Ebola linked to this specific outbreak within the United States.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
