Beginning November 3, 2026, every passenger boarding an international flight to the United States must sign a health attestation confirming no recent presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, responding to a Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak that has driven confirmed cases past 10,000.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the sweeping pre-boarding order on October 22, setting a strict compliance window that takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 3, 2026. The federal directive applies universally to all travelers of every nationality, including U.S. citizens returning home, lawful permanent residents holding green cards, airline crew members, and passengers transiting through American airports on itineraries to other nations.
Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak Reaches 10,141 Confirmed Cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo
According to public health data, the outbreak has recorded 10,141 confirmed cases and 4,928 related deaths inside the Democratic Republic of the Congo, maintaining a case fatality rate near fifty percent across eight affected provinces. World Health Organization officials note that daily infection rates continue between 50 and 80 new cases. The emergency measure is driven by an escalating epidemic in Central Africa.
Genetic sequencing has revealed unprecedented geographic spread across the African continent. Recent genomic testing linked cases in Nigeria and Kenya to the same genetic lineage circulating in the DRC.
Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, warned that the epidemic represents the first time three African regions have been affected, urging international partners to increase their treatment preparedness.
Earlier containment efforts included measures adopted in May that prevented individuals who had spent time in the DRC from boarding commercial flights to the United States. These restrictions were subsequently expanded to encompass United States citizens in July. Health officials noted that the absence of widely approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease places healthcare personnel and family caregivers at the highest level of risk during the response.
According to federal health documentation, symptoms of the virus typically emerge within 2 to 21 days following exposure, with the most common onset occurring between 4 and 10 days. Individuals carrying the virus remain non-contagious until physical symptoms manifest. Public health guidance directs anyone who develops a fever or other symptoms within 21 days of visiting an affected region to contact a medical professional or local health department prior to seeking in-person care.
Airlines Push Back Against Short Implementation Window
Major aviation trade organizations have challenged the federal mandate, arguing that carriers were given insufficient time to overhaul check-in procedures. In letters submitted to federal health officials, Airlines for America and the International Air Transport Association requested a delay to the November 3 start date, citing operational hurdles in updating digital booking systems and station protocols across global networks.
This is the second-largest outbreak of Ebola in history. So this is very serious.
Dr. Tyler Evans, infectious disease physician and CEO of Wellness Equity Alliance, via Fox News
Airlines also questioned why the pre-boarding attestation applies exclusively to commercial air travel while omitting maritime and surface transport networks. Despite the pushback from industry groups representing carriers such as American, United, Delta, and Southwest, the federal order remains in force while agencies review the objections.
Carriers received briefings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding compliance expectations, which mandate that airlines retain completed attestation documents for a minimum of 42 days following flight arrival. Industry representatives pointed out that modifying digital signatures and check-in workflows within a two-week notification window creates severe administrative bottlenecks.
Passengers Must Certify Absence from Democratic Republic of the Congo
Under the emergency order, every air passenger must complete a paper or digital disclosure certifying that they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the 21 days preceding departure. Families cannot use a single signature; every individual traveler—including minor children, with forms signed by a parent or authorized guardian—must submit a separate attestation directly to the airline.
| Requirement Parameter | Details Under CDC Order |
|---|---|
| Effective Date | November 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST |
| Expiration Date | December 18, 2026 |
| Target Population | All inbound international passengers, crew, and U.S. citizens |
| Prohibited Window | 21-day travel ban for anyone present in the DRC |
Carriers bear strict legal responsibility under the rule. Ground staff must verify that every passenger possesses a completed document before issuing a boarding pass, leaving no operational discretion for exceptions.
Federal authorities warned that willfully providing false or misleading statements on the health form constitutes a federal offense carrying penalties of criminal fines and imprisonment.
United States citizens and nationals who have visited Uganda or South Sudan within the preceding 21 days—while avoiding the Democratic Republic of the Congo—are required to enter the country through designated public health screening hubs at Washington Dulles, Atlanta, or New York JFK.