US to require Ebola health declaration from all international air passengers

The CDC order requires every passenger on every international flight to the US to confirm they have not visited or transited through the DRC in the previous 21 days

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order on October 22, 2026, requiring all passengers boarding an international flight to the United States to complete a signed health attestation confirming they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the 21 days before boarding. The requirement takes effect at 11:59 PM Eastern time on November 3, 2026, according to the signed CDC order.

Before this order, US Ebola-related travel restrictions focused on travelers with known itineraries through the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan. The CDC barred foreign nationals who had been in the DRC in the previous 21 days from boarding commercial flights to the United States starting in May 2026, and extended that ban to US citizens in July 2026. The new attestation requirement goes further by requiring every international air passenger to confirm their travel history, regardless of whether their itinerary flagged any connection to the DRC.

The measure is part of the US government’s response to the ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where confirmed deaths have exceeded 4,690 as of late October 2026. The CDC confirmed that no related Ebola cases have been identified in the United States.

Who must complete the health attestation?

The attestation requirement applies to every passenger boarding an international flight destined for the United States, with no exceptions based on nationality, visa status, or point of departure. US citizens, permanent residents, foreign nationals on tourist or business visas, ESTA travelers, and diplomats are all covered.

Passengers traveling from countries with no connection to the Ebola outbreak, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Belgium, or Switzerland, must also comply. The requirement likewise covers travelers who are simply connecting through a US airport on their way to another destination.

The order applies to all types of flights departing for the United States, including commercial airline services, general aviation, and private aircraft. The CDC’s official guidance confirms that flying over the DRC without landing does not count as having been present in the country.

What does the health attestation require?

Each passenger must complete and sign the CDC’s official form, titled “Passenger Disclosure and Attestation to the United States of America.” The attestation requires travelers to certify that they have not visited or transited through the DRC during the 21 days preceding their flight to the United States.

The CDC defines “being present” in the DRC broadly. It includes physical visits as well as airport connections, even if the traveler remained aboard the aircraft or within the airport’s transit area. Only overflying the DRC without landing is excluded.

A separate attestation is required for each passenger. For children under 18, a parent or another authorized individual may complete and sign the form on their behalf.

How do travelers submit the attestation?

The attestation may be submitted in paper or digital form, with either a handwritten or electronic signature. The CDC has encouraged airlines to incorporate the declaration into their online check-in procedures to streamline the process.

The exact steps travelers need to follow will depend on the system adopted by their airline. The CDC held briefing calls with major US and foreign airlines on October 23, 2026, to detail compliance procedures. Some carriers may integrate the attestation into their digital check-in flow, while others may distribute paper forms at the gate or during boarding.

Airlines must deny boarding to any passenger who fails to provide a properly completed and signed attestation. Carriers are required to retain a copy of each attestation for at least 42 days after the flight’s departure. The CDC may request these records to verify compliance or as part of a public health investigation.

What happens to travelers who have been in the DRC?

Travelers who have been present in the DRC within 21 days before their flight, including US citizens, are not permitted to board commercial flights to the United States under the existing CDC restrictions that have been in effect since May 2026 (for foreign nationals) and July 2026 (for US citizens).

Separate entry restrictions also apply to foreign nationals who have recently been in Uganda or South Sudan within the same 21-day window. These restrictions predate the attestation order and remain in effect alongside it.

The new health attestation does not replace these existing travel bans. It adds a systematic verification layer across all international flights, requiring every passenger to confirm their recent travel history before boarding, rather than relying solely on itinerary-based screening.

How long will the requirement remain in effect?

The CDC order takes effect at 11:59 PM Eastern time on November 3, 2026, applying to all flights departing for the United States at or after that time. The requirement is scheduled to remain in force through December 18, 2026, at the latest.

The CDC may amend, lift, or extend the order based on how the Ebola outbreak in the DRC evolves. The agency may also grant specific exemptions, including for certain emergency medical evacuations or humanitarian circumstances.

The health attestation is an additional requirement alongside existing US entry procedures. Travelers who need an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) or a US visa must still obtain those documents separately. The attestation does not replace any immigration or customs formalities. It confirms only that the traveler has not recently been present in the DRC.