Key facts
- Air passengers bound for the US must certify they have not been in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the prior 21 days.
- The requirement is due to risks associated with Ebola.
- The CDC previously barred travelers from DRC within 21 days of departure from boarding flights to the US.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will implement a new requirement for international air passengers traveling to the United States. According to a memo seen by Reuters on Thursday, passengers will need to certify that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) within the 21 days preceding their departure. This measure is being introduced due to concerns over the risks associated with Ebola. Previously, the CDC had already put in place rules that barred travelers, including US citizens and nationals, who had been in the DRC within 21 days of their flight's departure from boarding commercial flights to the US.