All international travelers entering the United States will now have to sign a statement saying they have not traveled to or through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the last 21 days.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) order, which went into effect Nov. 3, is intended to prevent the spread of Ebola into the U.S. It applies to all passengers and crew on both passenger and cargo-carrying aircraft.
The agency noted the “overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low.”
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“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,” the CDC wrote. “The 21-day period reflects the maximum incubation period (time between exposure and symptoms starting) for Ebola disease. Persons who do not sign an attestation will not be allowed to board a flight to the United States.”
Airlines and aircraft operators will be responsible for collecting and retaining each person’s attestation, which must be obtained prior to boarding. These attestations can be completed by individuals or by an authorized representative on behalf of each member of a traveling party.
The attestation is required for travelers who are both entering and transiting through the U.S. It does not, however, apply to land border crossings or seaports.
The ongoing outbreak is the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, surpassing 1,000 confirmed cases within 40 days, according to the CDC. The outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus, a type of Ebola virus, and is currently concentrated in the DRC.
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Additional cases have been recorded in Uganda and Nigeria. In Kenya, a man died of the virus after traveling from the DRC, through Uganda, to the capital Nairobi. The agency recommended avoiding all travel to the Ituri and Nord-Kivu (North Kivu) provinces, and avoiding nonessential travel to the Haut-Uele and Tshopo provinces in the DRC; as well as taking “enhanced precautions to avoid Ebola exposure and monitor for symptoms” when traveling to other parts of the DRC or Uganda.
No Ebola cases associated with this outbreak have been reported in the U.S.
“If a case was diagnosed in the United States, the risk of Ebola spreading in the United States is also low due to the strength of our public health system and infection control measures,” the agency wrote.
Symptoms of Ebola can start with “dry” symptoms, like fever and weakness, and progress to “wet” symptoms, like diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC. Symptoms appear on average eight to 10 days after exposure but may appear up to 21 days after.
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