The United States will introduce a new declaration requirement for all passengers travelling by air to the country, requiring them to confirm they have not been in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the previous 21 days, as authorities step up measures to prevent the importation of Ebola.
- The US will require all air passengers to declare they have not been in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the previous 21 days to prevent Ebola importation.
- The measure, effective November 3, was announced by the CDC and will require digital or paper attestations before travel.
- Airlines must ensure passengers comply with the new declaration, and the CDC will brief major carriers on compliance procedures.
- These requirements build on earlier travel restrictions linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain in Africa.
The new order from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) takes effect on November 3 and will require passengers to submit digital or paper attestations before travelling to the United States, according to a memo reviewed by Reuters.
The announcement comes days after Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade, involving a Uganda-born woman who returned to Abuja on October 3 after travelling to Uganda.
The case has raised concerns about the spread of the virus across borders, although US officials have not officially linked the new declaration to Nigeria’s case.
Under the new requirement, airlines will need to ensure passengers complete the declaration. The CDC is scheduled to brief major US and international airlines on Friday on how carriers should comply with the order.
Existing restrictions remain in place
The new declaration builds on travel restrictions introduced earlier in 2026 as the Ebola outbreak spread from the DRC.
In May, the CDC adopted measures preventing passengers who had been in the DRC during the previous 21 days from boarding commercial flights to the United States. The restrictions were extended to US citizens in July.
The US has also imposed entry restrictions on certain foreign nationals who have recently been in Uganda or South Sudan, two countries linked to the outbreak. Separate arrangements apply to US citizens and nationals who have visited those countries, including enhanced screening at designated airports.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has spread across several African countries. The CDC has said no cases associated with the outbreak had been reported in the United States as of October 20, and assessed the risk to the American public and travellers as low.
The new declaration adds another layer to the US response by requiring all US-bound air passengers to affirm their recent travel history, rather than relying solely on restrictions targeting people who have recently been in affected countries.