CDC issues new travel screening as fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record spreads to another country

Every passenger flying into the US from overseas will soon have to confirm they have not been to the epicenter of Africa’s Ebola outbreak.

From November 3, travelers will have to sign a statement, either digitally or on paper, declaring they have not been to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the three weeks before their flight.

The new rule will apply to everyone, regardless of their citizenship or location of embarkation, and is the latest measure from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent the outbreak from spreading.

Briefing calls with major US and foreign airlines will be held on Friday by the CDC to detail ⁠how carriers should comply with the new measure.

On Tuesday, US health officials issued a level 1 travel notice for Kenya, indicating American travelers should practice precautions if traveling to the country.

The alert was sparked after Kenya confirmed its first imported case of Ebola on October 6 in a traveler arriving from the DRC via Uganda. On October 20, Nigeria also reported a case of Ebola linked to international travel.

The Ebola outbreak, declared an international health emergency by the World Health Organization in May, is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain.

This strain has up to a 50 percent mortality rate, and there is no vaccine or treatment for it.

It has spread from the DRC to neighboring Uganda, with imported cases reported in at least two other countries- Nigeria and Kenya.

Both countries have seen local transmission – though the outbreak in Uganda has been declared over – but imported cases have been reported in Kenya.

Over the summer, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said it is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded in Africa.

The statement requirement applies to all passengers who intend to board an international flight destined for the US unless they have an exemption issued by the US government.

Travelers can either print out the online form from the CDC website or sign the statement electronically.

Aircraft operators must confirm all passengers completed the attestation before boarding. Those who failed to complete and present the form will not be allowed to board.

The US administration will retain a copy of each passenger’s statement for at least 42 days after they arrive in the States. 

Under current restrictions, travelers who have been in the DRC within the last 21 days are currently not allowed to enter the US.

Additionally, the US has also imposed Ebola-related entry restrictions on travelers from Uganda and South Sudan.

Foreigners who have recently been in these countries are barred from entry for at least 21 days since departure. Conversely, American citizens must undergo a health screening upon arrival back in the States.

According to the CDC, there have been 9,581 total confirmed cases and 4,605 total confirmed deaths since the outbreak in May.

This includes 9,552 confirmed cases and 4,602 confirmed deaths in the DRC.

Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases, one probable case, two confirmed deaths and one probable death. There have been eight confirmed cases and one confirmed death in Kenya, and one confirmed case in France.

France reported its imported case of Ebola in June in a humanitarian doctor after he returned from the DRC. 

According to local reports, he showed little to no symptoms and fully recovered by early July.

At least two American aid workers contracted Ebola while working in the DRC during the current outbreak, though no local cases have been confirmed in the US, according to health authorities.

The first American case was reported in May 2026 in Dr Peter Stafford, who was evacuated to Germany for treatment. 

A second US citizen tested positive in July 2026 while working as a humanitarian aid worker in the DRC and was also medically evacuated to Germany. 

The aid worker was medically evacuated to Frankfurt University Hospital, home to one of Europe’s specialized high-containment infectious disease units.

German officials said the US sought treatment there because of the country’s experience managing Ebola cases and its close proximity to the DRC. 

Both were treated and reported to be in stable condition at the time. No Ebola-linked deaths have been reported in Americans in the current outbreak.

The CDC issued a level 4, ‘avoid all travel,’ notice for the Ituri and Nord-Kivu (North-Kivu) provinces in the DRC due to Ebola in August, and is still in effect.

A level 3, ‘reconsider nonessential travel,’ is in effect for the Haut-Uélé and Tshopo provinces of the DRC due to Ebola.

Additionally, a level 2, ‘practice enhanced precautions,’ travel notice has been issued for the remainder of the DRC and for Uganda due to the Ebola outbreak.

The American embassy in the DRC said in May: ‘The US government is extremely limited in its ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Ituri province. Do not travel to this area for any reason.’

Ituri province is the epicenter of the outbreak. 

CDC officials maintain the risk to the general US public remains low but urged travelers to the area to avoid contact with any sick individuals.

The CDC has also said travelers should watch for symptoms of Ebola for 21 days after leaving the DRC.

This is the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC, where the virus is endemic, since it was discovered in 1976, but only the third caused by the Bundibugyo strain.

The other two Bundibugyo outbreaks were in 2007 and 2012.

The most recent Ebola outbreaks in the DRC were in 2018 and 2020 and they killed more than 1,000 people each. 

The largest Ebola outbreak occurred from 2014 to 2016 in West Africa when more than 28,600 cases were reported.

Ebola spreads through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person, as well as contact with contaminated objects or infected animals such as bats or primates.

Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain and weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and unexplained bleeding or bruising.