The CDC requires international air travellers to confirm they have not visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo within 21 days.
Airlines must collect declarations before boarding and retain records for at least 42 days.
The requirement covers international passengers, connecting travellers and flight crews, with the initial order running through 18 December 2026.
CDC introduces new health requirements for international flights
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the original order on 22 October 2026.Subsequently, the agency amended the requirements on 28 October to clarify their application to aircraft personnel. The measure takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on 3 November 2026. It applies to flights departing foreign countries for the United States from that time.
Importantly, the rules also cover passengers connecting through US airports to other destinations.
The CDC introduced the requirement amid the Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to Reuters, US authorities previously introduced travel restrictions targeting recent visitors to the country. However, the new declaration extends documentation requirements to travellers departing from every international origin.
What must passengers declare before boarding;
All international air travellers must confirm they have not entered the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the preceding 21 days. Passengers can submit declarations through paper forms or approved electronic processes. Airlines may also integrate the required statement into digital check-in systems.
The rules cover US citizens, foreign nationals and lawful permanent residents. Furthermore, they apply to passengers travelling through the United States without ending their journeys there.
The CDC also considers airport connections in the DRC as physical presence in the country. Consequently, passengers cannot avoid the restriction simply by remaining inside an airport or aircraft during a connection.
Travellers who recently visited the DRC must complete the mandatory waiting period before boarding US-bound flights. Under the CDC’s calculation, travellers may resume eligible air travel on the 22nd day after leaving the country. The rules provide limited exemptions, including certain authorised medical transport operations and exceptional humanitarian circumstances.
Airlines face new verification and recordkeeping obligations
The US Ebola travel declaration introduces additional responsibilities for domestic and international airlines operating flights into the United States. Carriers must confirm that passengers have completed the required statement before boarding. They must also prevent passengers without valid declarations from boarding, except where the US government grants an exemption. Furthermore, airlines must maintain individual declaration records for at least 42 days.
US authorities can request access to these records for compliance checks or public health investigations. The CDC permits physical signatures, authenticated electronic signatures and appropriate digital confirmation processes.
Additionally, airline systems can collect declarations during check-in or immediately before boarding. The amended order extends these responsibilities to operators of cargo aircraft, private aviation and general aviation flights. Flight crews must also complete declarations, including personnel travelling for operational repositioning.
Airlines remain responsible for compliance even when third-party technology providers assist with collection or processing.
Existing travel restrictions remain in force
The new requirements supplement existing US public health restrictions affecting travellers with recent exposure to certain African countries. Earlier measures already prevented passengers with recent travel history in the DRC from boarding US-bound flights. These restrictions also apply to American citizens and nationals.
Separately, the United States maintains entry restrictions concerning recent travel to Uganda and South Sudan. Foreign nationals, including US lawful permanent residents, face restrictions following recent visits to those countries. Meanwhile, American citizens and nationals may face designated airport routing and additional health screening. These measures form part of the government’s broader response to the Ebola outbreak.
Why the United States introduced the additional declaration?
The CDC aims to reduce the risk of Ebola entering the United States through international aviation. The 21-day declaration period reflects the maximum incubation period associated with Ebola disease. Reuters reported that the measures follow an outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
The news agency also reported earlier government restrictions targeting travellers with recent exposure to affected areas. At the time of Reuters’ report, the CDC had identified no US cases associated with the outbreak. Moreover, the agency continues to describe the overall risk to American residents and travellers as low. Nevertheless, authorities consider additional travel documentation necessary to support disease prevention and border health controls.
What the new rules mean for airlines and travel management companies
The US Ebola travel declaration adds another documentation requirement to international passenger processing. For airlines, compliance involves changes to check-in workflows, boarding verification and record management. Digital integration could help operators collect declarations without introducing separate paper-based procedures. However, each airline must ensure its systems capture valid declarations and maintain accessible records.
For travel management companies, the requirements introduce additional considerations when arranging international journeys involving US connections. Travel advisers must also account for the restrictions when managing itineraries involving the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Furthermore, airline distribution and passenger servicing platforms may need updated information concerning declaration requirements.
The rules could create additional processing steps for international departures, particularly during the initial implementation period. However, authorities have not published estimates of potential boarding delays or additional operating costs.
CDC sets initial expiry date for December 2026
The amended order establishes an initial operating period ending at 11:59 p.m. EST on 18 December 2026. Nevertheless, US authorities retain the power to amend, extend or withdraw the requirements earlier. Future decisions will consider outbreak developments, geographic spread and public health containment capabilities. Meanwhile, airlines must implement the declaration process for applicable flights departing from 3 November.
The measure adds a temporary health documentation requirement to international aviation operations during the current Ebola response.
Tags: Congo Ebola United States
