{
  "id": 17976220,
  "title": "New Ebola-Related Requirement for Travel to the US: What Passengers Must Declare",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/new-ebola-related-requirement-for-travel-to-the-us-what-passengers",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-03T14:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/11/03/us-health-declaration-drc-travel-ebola/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Beginning November 3, 2026, passengers boarding flights to the United States from any country must declare if they were in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within the 21 days prior to their departure. This rule applies to all travelers, regardless of nationality, and includes those connecting in the United States en route to another destination. The requirement is part of a preventive public health measure to prevent the spread of Ebola virus disease, which has been confirmed in multiple DRC provinces, including Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, South Ubangi, North Ubangi, and Tshopo. As of October 31, the CDC has recorded 10,467 confirmed cases and 5,103 deaths in the DRC due to the Bundibugyo virus, a species that can cause Ebola disease. The declaration is a signed attestation confirming the passenger's travel history and affirming the accuracy of their response. The airline must verify the declaration before boarding and retain it for at least 42 days after the flight arrives in the United States. The 21-day period is based on the maximum incubation period for the virus, during which symptoms may develop. This rule does not imply that all travelers are sick or have been exposed to the virus; rather, it aims to prevent potential importation of the virus through air travel. The CDC stresses that there have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in the United States linked to this outbreak, and the overall risk to the public and travelers remains low. However, the declaration complements other health measures and does not replace them. Passengers are advised to review their itinerary, including layovers, and consult the CDC's step-by-step guide to complete the declaration accurately. Airlines like Avianca may offer digital options for submission, and passengers should check their specific airline's instructions for completing and submitting the declaration before boarding.",
  "summary": "Starting Nov. 3, 2026, people flying to the United States from another country must complete a health declaration stating whether they have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the 21 days before their flight. The requirement also applies to passengers who are only connecting through the United States before continuing to […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}