This article was updated on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 6:29 a.m. EST to include a statement from a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
In May 2026, an official for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning to U.S. airports, stating the Ebola screening methods they were using were “weak.” Now, the agency is taking extra precautions and introducing a new health requirement for all travelers flying to the United States, including American citizens.
From November 3, passengers on all international flights to the U.S. will need to complete a new declaration before boarding. The rule will affect travelers regardless of nationality or where their flight departs from; that means Americans returning home from overseas trips will need to complete it, too. Passengers who fail to submit the declaration could find themselves unable to board their flight, and travelers may face fines or prosecution for providing false information, according to the CDC.
International Passengers Traveling To The U.S. Must Complete Ebola Declaration
From November 3, passengers on international flights to the U.S. will need to complete an Ebola declaration as health officials respond to a serious outbreak in Central Africa. The CDC announced the new requirement in an order on October 22, 2026. Passengers boarding international flights to the United States must confirm that they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the 21 days before their flight.
The rule takes effect at 11:59 p.m. ET on November 3. However, it is not limited to travelers flying directly from the DRC or another country affected by Ebola.
Anyone boarding an international flight to the U.S. will need to complete the declaration, regardless of where they are from or where their journey begins. This means anyone visiting the U.S. for a vacation or American citizens returning home.
“Beginning November 3, 2026, all passengers boarding an international flight to the United States must attest (sign a statement) that they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the 21 days before boarding a flight to the United States. An attestation is a statement that confirms that the information provided is true. Willfully providing false or misleading information may lead to criminal fines and imprisonment,” the CDC states on its website.
Travelers who fail to fill out the declaration will be unable to board their flight. The CDC also warns that travelers, including U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals, who have been to the DRC within 21 days of their flight will not be able to board. This includes all passengers transiting through the DRC on a connecting flight, regardless of whether they disembark or stay on the airplane. In a statement, a spokesperson for the CDC told TheTravel:
“This attestation is required as a public health measure intended to reduce the risk of Ebola being introduced into the United States through air travel. It requires passengers to confirm before boarding a flight to the United States that they have not been in the DRC during the previous 21 days. The 21-day period reflects the maximum incubation period for Ebola disease. The incubation period is the time between exposure and symptoms starting. Passengers who do not sign an attestation will not be allowed to board a flight to the United States.”
Additionally, travelers who have been in South Sudan or Uganda within 21 days of departure to the U.S. can only enter through designated airports that have additional Ebola screening protocols in place. These airports include Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Airlines Will Be Responsible For Checking Declarations
The new order places a series of responsibilities on airlines operating international flights to the United States. Carriers must confirm, at or before boarding, that every passenger has completed the declaration.
The CDC is leaving airlines to organize how passengers submit the declaration, so the process may vary between carriers. Some may integrate it into their online check-in systems, asking passengers to check a box declaring they have not been to or through the DRC 21 days before departure, while others may ask passengers to fill out a form provided to airlines by the agency.
Whatever method the airline chooses, it must ensure that a passenger has filled out the declaration before allowing them to board.
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Rules Airlines Must Follow |
Information |
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Check that every passenger has completed the declaration |
At or before boarding, carriers must confirm that each passenger has attested that they have not been present in the DRC during the previous 21 days. |
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Do not allow passengers to board without it |
Anyone who has failed to complete and present the declaration must be refused boarding unless they have an exemption issued by the U.S. government. |
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Keep the paperwork for at least 42 days |
Airlines must retain a copy of each completed declaration for at least 42 days after the flight arrives in the United States. |
Airlines must also keep a copy of all passenger attestations for 42 days after landing in the U.S. They must also be able to provide the U.S. government with them on request, as well as information such as passenger names, passenger record numbers, dates and times of travel, arrival airports, and departure airports.
The Requirement Follows A Serious Ebola Outbreak In Central Africa
Health authorities are currently working to contain an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in Central Africa, centered in the DRC. The latest outbreak was identified in May 2026 and has since spread across multiple areas, putting pressure on the limited healthcare facilities.
The CDC’s Current Situation update confirms that as of October 21, there were 9,735 confirmed cases of Ebola. 9,704 of these were in the DRC, while the country also had 4,687 confirmed deaths due to the virus. Kenya also had nine confirmed cases with one death, while Nigeria had one confirmed case.
The CDC’s update also says no cases associated with this outbreak have been reported in the United States and that the risk to the general American public and travelers is low. The new declaration is intended to help keep the virus out of the country.
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