Deadly Ebola Outbreak Leads to Tighter U.S. Entry Rules from CDC
Anyone flying into the United States from another country will soon face an additional requirement before boarding. Starting Nov. 3, international air travelers must sign a statement confirming they haven’t visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within the previous 21 days.
The requirement applies to passengers arriving from any foreign country, including U.S. citizens returning home. Travelers who refuse to complete the declaration won’t be permitted to board their flights.
The measure is part of the federal government’s response to a deadly Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, where the disease has spread rapidly since earlier this year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the requirement on Oct. 22 and amended it on Oct. 28. It takes effect at 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov. 3.
New Declaration Required Before Boarding U.S.-Bound Flights
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Travelers will need to complete an attestation, a signed statement confirming that they haven’t been in the DRC during the 21 days before their flight. The CDC allows airlines to collect a physical or digital statement.
The CDC stresses that these measures also apply to “all passengers transiting through DRC on a connecting flight regardless of whether they disembark or stay on the airplane.”
Under the CDC‘s updated travel requirements, anyone who has been in the DRC during the previous 21 days is temporarily prohibited from boarding a U.S.-bound flight, including American citizens. Eligible travelers can return beginning on the 22nd day after leaving the country.
Separate restrictions apply to travelers who recently visited Uganda or South Sudan, specifically. Non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. nationals, including green card holders, must wait 21 days before entering the United States. American citizens and nationals may return sooner, although they must enter through designated airports for health screening.
Airport Screenings and Additional Travel Restrictions
Americans returning from Uganda or South Sudan during that 21-day period will be routed through Washington Dulles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, or John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
According to the CDC, screening involves questions about recent travel and possible symptoms, temperature checks, and observation by public health staff. Most travelers without symptoms can continue to their destinations after screening.
The agency considers the overall risk to Americans low. However, travelers who have recently visited affected countries are instructed to monitor their health for 21 days after departure and contact public health authorities if symptoms develop.
Airlines must collect the new declarations before allowing passengers to board U.S.-bound flights and retain them for at least 42 days. The CDC says travelers who knowingly provide false information could face criminal penalties.
The restrictions follow an Ebola outbreak that the CDC describes as “the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.” As of Oct. 26, health authorities had reported more than 10,000 confirmed infections and over 4,900 deaths across affected countries. No cases associated with the outbreak have been confirmed in the United States.
