US expands Ebola travel ban
- On May 22, the United States expanded Ebola-related entry restrictions to lawful permanent residents who had recently been in Congo, Uganda or South Sudan. - The key operational detail is the 21-day lookback: affected travelers can face entry limits, rerouting and enhanced screening at designated U.S. airports. - From May 26, Houston joins Washington-Dulles and Atlanta as designated screening airports; travelers are directed to CDC and State Department notices.
The United States widened its Ebola-related travel restrictions on May 22 to cover lawful permanent residents, ending an exemption that had allowed green-card holders to return after recent travel in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the move is part of a temporary effort, announced May 18 with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies, to prevent Ebola from entering the country during outbreaks in East and Central Africa. U.S. citizens and nationals may still enter, but they are subject to enhanced public-health screening and routing rules. Reuters reported the policy change on Friday, citing CDC guidance and federal notices. ### Who is now barred, and who can still come in? Lawful permanent residents are now temporarily barred if they were in the three named countries within the previous 21 days, according to Reuters and CDC guidance. Before the May 22 change, U.S. citizens, nationals and green-card holders had been exempt from a 30-day Ebola restriction order aimed at other travelers. (usnews.com) U.S. citizens and nationals remain eligible to enter, but the CDC says they must follow arrival restrictions and health measures tied to recent travel in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan. The agency says travelers should monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days after leaving affected countries. ### Why those three countries? The CDC said outbreaks are ongoing in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as of May 15, while South Sudan is included in the U.S. travel rules because of routing and regional exposure concerns described in federal notices. (usnews.com) The CDC’s current situation page said that, as of May 23, Congo had 746 suspected cases, 83 confirmed cases, 176 suspected deaths and 9 confirmed deaths, while Uganda had 5 confirmed cases and 1 confirmed death. Uganda announced three additional linked cases on May 23, the agency said. (cdc.gov) Reuters reported on May 15 that the CDC was monitoring Ebola in Congo and Uganda and providing technical assistance to their governments. That reporting preceded the U.S. entry restrictions announced days later. ### Which U.S. airports are handling the screening? Washington Dulles International Airport became the first designated entry point for affected U.S.-bound travelers, with screening there applying to flights after 11:59 p.m. on May 21, according to State Department and embassy notices. (cdc.gov) Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was added for flights after 11:59 p.m. on May 22. George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston is scheduled to join for flights departing after 11:59 p.m. on May 26. (msn.com) The CDC and Customs and Border Protection are conducting the enhanced screening, federal notices said. USA Today and CNBC separately reported Atlanta’s addition, while embassy and State Department alerts listed Houston as the next airport in the system. ### What does “enhanced public-health screening” mean in practice? The CDC says affected travelers should expect public-health arrival restrictions, possible rerouting and added screening on arrival. (travel.state.gov) State Department alerts warn travelers to prepare for flight changes or cancellations and to review both CDC and Department of Homeland Security notices before departure. The 21-day window is central because Ebola’s incubation period can extend that long. (usatoday.com) The CDC’s traveler guidance says people returning from the affected countries should watch for symptoms during that period and follow instructions from health officials. ### What should travelers check next? The CDC updated its traveler page on May 23 and says people should review current U.S. arrival requirements before starting a trip. (cdc.gov) The State Department’s May 22 worldwide caution and related embassy alerts list the designated airports and effective times for screening. Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport is due to begin handling affected itineraries after 11:59 p.m. on May 26, according to the federal notices. (cdc.gov) The CDC’s Ebola situation page and traveler guidance are the agencies’ named sources for further updates as the outbreaks and entry rules evolve. (th.usembassy.gov)
