New Health Screening Protocols for US-Bound Flights from Ebola-Affected Regions

In response to the Ebola outbreak in Africa, the US government has mandated that all flights carrying passengers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda must land at Dulles International Airport for health screenings. This new requirement, effective immediately, applies to all travelers, including US citizens and lawful permanent residents, who have been in these regions within the past 21 days. The CDC has deployed additional staff to assist with screenings, while Customs and Border Protection is coordinating with airlines to manage potentially exposed travelers. The outbreak has resulted in nearly 600 suspected cases and 150 deaths, but the CDC maintains that the risk to the general public remains low.

Key Details: • All US-bound flights from affected regions must land at Dulles Airport for screenings. • The screening requirement is effective immediately and applies to anyone who has been in the affected areas in the last 21 days. • CDC has sent staff to assist with the health screenings at Dulles. • Travelers should be aware of potential delays and changes to flight routes.