CDC Extends Ebola-Related U.S. Entry Restrictions for Travelers From Central Africa

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extended temporary Ebola-related entry restrictions for certain travelers who were recently in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan, keeping a U.S. travel rule in place that can reroute eligible arrivals through four designated airports for enhanced public health screening.

The June 21, 2026 order continues a policy first issued in May in response to an Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain. For most U.S. vacationers, the practical takeaway is narrow but important: the rule is not a broad change for ordinary international travel, but it can significantly affect itineraries involving the three listed countries, humanitarian work, business travel, visiting friends and relatives, academic travel, or complex international connections.

What Changed on June 21

CDC says the new order continues the suspension of entry for specified foreign nationals who were physically present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days. The continuation is in effect for 30 days while federal health officials complete a public health risk assessment and coordinate mitigation measures with partner agencies.

The agency’s traveler guidance says the entry restriction applies to certain non-U.S. citizens, including U.S. lawful permanent residents, if they were in one of the affected countries during the 21-day lookback period. The order does not prevent entry by U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and certain U.S. government and military personnel. It also allows case-by-case humanitarian or law-enforcement exceptions and Department of Homeland Security-approved entry processes when CDC-documented mitigation protocols are in place.

That distinction matters for travelers and travel planners. A U.S. citizen returning from an affected country is not barred from entering the United States, but should expect public health entry screening. A non-U.S. passport holder or permanent resident with recent travel in the affected countries may face a temporary entry suspension unless an exception applies.

Four Airports Are Handling the Screening

Travelers permitted to enter the United States after recent presence in the affected countries may have their air travel routed to select airports where CDC screening is being conducted. CDC lists the designated U.S. airports as Washington Dulles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and New York JFK Airport.

CDC says airlines will work with affected travelers to rebook flights if routing changes are needed. Passengers already scheduled to land at one of the designated airports should not be redirected to another screening airport solely for that reason. DHS determines whether a traveler needs to be redirected for public health entry screening, including cases where a traveler only transited through one of the affected countries.

For U.S. travelers connecting home through one of these gateways, the best move is to build in more time than usual. Screening may include being escorted to a designated area, answering questions about travel history and symptoms, a non-contact temperature check, observation by CDC staff, and collection of contact information for possible follow-up by state or local health departments.

What Travelers Should Expect After Arrival

Travelers without symptoms will generally receive health-monitoring information and continue to their final destination after screening. CDC says travelers who have been in the affected countries should monitor for Ebola symptoms for 21 days after leaving those areas. Symptoms can include fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea or unexplained bleeding, and anyone who develops symptoms should avoid travel and contact public health authorities immediately.

If a traveler has a fever or other symptoms that could be consistent with Ebola during screening, CDC says that person will receive further evaluation by a CDC public health officer. If the assessment indicates possible Ebola disease, the traveler will be transferred to a hospital for medical evaluation and isolation.

CDC also notes that entry screening cannot identify every case because symptoms may develop up to 21 days after exposure. The agency frames airport screening as one layer in a broader response that also includes exit screening overseas, airline illness reporting, contact tracing, laboratory capacity and hospital readiness.

Why This Matters for the U.S. Travel Market

The number of leisure travelers moving between the United States and the affected countries is small compared with high-volume vacation markets in Europe, Mexico or the Caribbean. But the rule is still meaningful for the U.S. travel sector because it affects several categories of trips that require careful planning: aid and medical work, university travel, faith-based travel, government travel, corporate travel, family visits and multi-country itineraries across East and Central Africa.

It also creates operational considerations at four major U.S. international gateways. Travelers routed through Dulles, Atlanta, Houston or JFK may need to adjust onward connections, ground transportation and overnight plans. If a screening-related routing change creates a longer layover, travelers should monitor airport status before and after departure using tools such as the IAD live flight board, ATL live flight board, IAH live flight board or JFK live flight board.

Travel advisors should also pay close attention to documentation. A traveler’s citizenship, immigration status, recent country presence and transit history can all matter under the current rule. CDC says it does not reimburse travelers for expenses caused by redirection, including missed flights or related costs, and that refunds, credits or accommodations are handled by airlines, travel providers and insurance companies under their own policies.

CDC Says General U.S. Public Risk Remains Low

The policy should not be read as a warning against ordinary U.S. travel. CDC’s current outbreak page says there is no recommended change in behavior for Americans going about daily life, including those with travel plans that do not involve the affected countries. The agency says the immediate risk to the general U.S. public is low, while also emphasizing that it may adjust public health measures as the situation evolves.

CDC’s current situation page says confirmed outbreak areas include Ituri, Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with related cases reported in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. Travelers considering trips to the region should review CDC travel health notices, State Department guidance, airline policies and any organizational risk requirements before booking or departing.

Practical Planning Steps

Check whether any part of your itinerary includes the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within 21 days of planned U.S. arrival.
Confirm whether the traveler is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, covered government or military traveler, or someone potentially subject to the temporary entry suspension.
If travel is permitted, prepare for possible rerouting through IAD, ATL, IAH or JFK for screening.
Leave extra time for U.S. connections and avoid tight same-day onward bookings when possible.
Keep airline contact details, travel insurance information and local public health instructions easily accessible.
Monitor for symptoms for 21 days after leaving an affected country and avoid travel if symptoms develop.

For travelers with no recent presence in the affected countries, the rule should not change normal summer travel plans. For those whose itineraries do touch the region, however, this is now a mandatory planning checkpoint rather than a footnote.