Beginning at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, Nov. 3, every person boarding an international flight to the United States must sign a statement saying they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the previous 21 days, under a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order aimed at keeping a fast-moving Ebola outbreak from reaching the country.
The requirement covers U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and green card holders as well as foreign visitors, and it applies no matter where the flight starts. Airlines must turn away anyone who does not complete the attestation, according to the CDC.
The CDC says the overall risk to the American public remains low, and no Ebola cases tied to the outbreak have been confirmed in the United States, according to the agency’s outbreak summary.
What does the new CDC Ebola order require?
The CDC issued the order on Oct. 22 and an amended order on Oct. 28. It requires all air travelers boarding an international flight into or connecting through the United States to attest, on paper or digitally, that they have not been present in the DRC in the 21 days before boarding.
The amended order clarified that the rule also covers airline crews on passenger and cargo flights. It applies to flights that depart a foreign country at or after 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov. 3.
Under the CDC’s technical instructions, airlines and other aircraft operators must:
- Confirm at or shortly before boarding that every person on board, or an authorized representative, has completed the attestation;
- Refuse boarding to anyone who has not completed it, unless the person has a U.S. government exemption; and
- Keep a copy of each attestation for at least 42 days after the flight arrives and provide it to the government on request.
The CDC says willfully giving false or misleading information can lead to criminal fines and imprisonment under federal law.
Who has to sign the attestation, and are there exemptions?
Everyone boarding a flight to the United States from a foreign country must sign, including Americans. Being “present” in the DRC includes entering or traveling through the country by air, land or sea, and the CDC says connecting through a DRC airport counts even if a traveler never leaves the plane.
The order allows two kinds of exemptions: designated air medical transport flights carrying people with Ebola under U.S. government authorization, and individuals the CDC exempts for humanitarian or other important government reasons.
Travelers do not need to print the form in advance. Airlines will provide and collect the attestation before boarding, and the CDC advises passengers to check with their airline about how it will be handled.
Why 21 days?
The 21-day window reflects the longest known incubation period for Ebola, the time between exposure and the start of symptoms, the CDC says. Symptoms usually begin 8 to 10 days after exposure but can appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days, according to the agency’s Ebola basics page.
The count uses calendar days. The day a person leaves the DRC is Day 0, and the person may board a flight to the United States beginning on Day 22.
How serious is the Ebola outbreak in Congo?
The outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus, one type of Ebola virus. The CDC says it is spreading substantially faster than previous Ebola outbreaks and is now the second-largest on record.
As of Oct. 31, the CDC counted 10,498 confirmed cases and 5,107 confirmed deaths. The outbreak passed 1,000 confirmed cases within 40 days of the response starting; the 2018 outbreak in the DRC took about 235 days to reach that mark, according to the agency.
Cases have spread beyond the DRC: Kenya had confirmed nine cases and two deaths as of Oct. 23, all in Nairobi, and Nigeria reported its first case on Oct. 20, the CDC said.
What other Ebola travel restrictions are already in place?
The attestation adds to existing limits. Travelers who have been in the DRC within 21 days, including Americans, already cannot board flights to the United States, according to CDC guidance for returning travelers.
Non-U.S. citizens, including green card holders, who were in Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days are not allowed to enter the country until 21 days after leaving. U.S. citizens and nationals coming from those two countries are routed through designated airports for public health screening.
Should Americans be worried about Ebola at home?
The CDC rates the likelihood of Ebola spreading to the United States as very low. Ebola does not spread through the air like flu or COVID-19, the agency says. People catch it through contact with the body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from the disease, and a person is contagious only after symptoms begin.
Early symptoms include fever, aches, pain and fatigue, and can progress to diarrhea, vomiting and unexplained bleeding.
Key Takeaways
- Starting 11:59 p.m. EST Nov. 3, 2026, everyone boarding an international flight to the U.S. must attest they have not been in the DRC in the past 21 days.
- The rule covers U.S. citizens, green card holders and airline crews; connecting through a DRC airport counts as being in the country.
- Airlines must deny boarding without an attestation and keep copies for 42 days; false statements can bring criminal penalties.
- The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak had 10,498 confirmed cases and 5,107 confirmed deaths as of Oct. 31, the CDC says.
- No outbreak-related Ebola cases have been confirmed in the U.S., and the CDC calls the risk to Americans low.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the CDC Ebola attestation requirement start?
It applies to international flights to the United States that depart at or after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Nov. 3, 2026.
Do U.S. citizens have to sign the Ebola attestation?
Yes. The CDC order applies to everyone boarding a flight to the United States from a foreign country, including U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents.
What happens if a traveler refuses to sign?
Airlines must not let the person board a flight to the United States unless the person has an exemption issued by the U.S. government.
How does Ebola spread?
Through contact with the body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola. It does not spread through the air, and a person is contagious only after symptoms start, according to the CDC.
Featured image: A screener checks a passenger arriving from West Africa at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport during enhanced Ebola screening in 2014. File photo. (Melissa Maraj/U.S. Customs and Border Protection, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
