The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is introducing a new screening measure for all passengers flying into the United States from overseas. Starting November 3, travelers will need to sign a statement, either digitally or on paper, confirming they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the 21 days prior to their flight. This new rule applies to all individuals, irrespective of their citizenship or point of departure.
The CDC is scheduled to brief major U.S. and foreign airlines on compliance with this measure. This development comes as the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, declared an international health emergency by the World Health Organization in May, continues to spread. The outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo strain, which has a mortality rate of up to 50 percent and for which no vaccine or treatment currently exists. The outbreak has already expanded from the DRC to neighboring Uganda, with imported cases reported in Nigeria and Kenya.
This represents the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded in Africa, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The attestation requirement mandates that aircraft operators verify all passengers have completed the form before boarding; those who fail to do so will be denied passage. The U.S. administration will keep a record of each passenger's statement for at least 42 days following their arrival.
Existing restrictions already bar travelers who have been in the DRC within the last 21 days from entering the U.S. Similar entry restrictions have been placed on travelers from Uganda and South Sudan, preventing foreigners from these regions from entering the U.S. for at least 21 days post-departure. U.S. citizens returning from these areas are subject to health screenings upon arrival.
As of the latest reports, the outbreak has resulted in 9,581 confirmed cases and 4,605 confirmed deaths since May. The DRC accounts for the majority of these figures, with 9,552 confirmed cases and 4,602 confirmed deaths. Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases and two confirmed deaths, while Kenya has recorded eight confirmed cases and one confirmed death. France reported one imported case in June, which fully recovered.
Two American aid workers contracted Ebola while working in the DRC during the current outbreak but were medically evacuated to Germany for treatment. Both were reported to be in stable condition, and no Ebola-linked deaths have occurred among Americans in this outbreak.
The CDC has issued varying travel advisories for affected regions. A level 4 'avoid all travel' notice is in effect for the Ituri and Nord-Kivu provinces in the DRC, the epicenter of the outbreak. A level 3 'reconsider nonessential travel' advisory applies to the Haut-Uélé and Tshopo provinces of the DRC. For the remainder of the DRC and Uganda, a level 2 'practice enhanced precautions' notice is in place.
While CDC officials state the risk to the general U.S. public remains low, they urge travelers to affected areas to avoid contact with sick individuals and monitor for Ebola symptoms for 21 days after departure. This is the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC since the virus was discovered in 1976. The Bundibugyo strain has been responsible for two previous outbreaks in 2007 and 2012. Previous major outbreaks in the DRC in 2018 and 2020 each caused over 1,000 fatalities. The largest Ebola outbreak on record occurred in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, with over 28,600 reported cases.
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with blood or bodily fluids of an infected person, or through contact with contaminated objects or infected animals. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.