US Adds Health Declaration for All Air Travellers From November 3 Over Ebola Outbreak

From November 3, every person flying to the United States must sign a health declaration before boarding, because of the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo.

This is not a visa change. It is not a test. It is a signed statement, called an attestation, where you confirm that you have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the 21 days before your flight.

The rule took effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 3, 2026. It applies to flights departing for the US at or after that time. It was issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on October 22, 2026, and published in the US Federal Register on October 27, 2026. An amended order followed on October 28.

What changed?

Before this rule, airlines already had separate Ebola entry rules for some travellers. This new rule is wider. It applies to everyone on board a flight to the US from any foreign country.

That includes US citizens, US nationals, lawful permanent residents, visitors, and even passengers who are only connecting through a US airport to another country. After the amendment, it also includes crew on duty, crew repositioning on a flight, and cargo flights. It does not apply to domestic US flights, or to flights that only fly over the US without landing.

Every passenger must present a signed attestation in paper or digital format. Airlines must check it before boarding and keep copies for at least 42 days. If you do not complete it, you will not be allowed to board, unless you have an official US Government exemption.

Who may be affected?

In practice, this affects almost every international traveller to the US, even if you have never been near Africa. If you are flying from London, Lagos, Toronto, Dubai, Paris, or anywhere else to New York, Atlanta, Houston, or any US airport, you must sign.

It most directly affects people who have recently been in the DRC. Even a short stop counts. Connecting through a DRC airport counts as being present in the DRC, even if you stayed inside the airport or inside the aircraft.

If you were in the DRC, the CDC counts the day you left as Day 0. The next full day is Day 1. You can only board a US-bound flight on Day 22, unless you have an authorised exemption, for example for emergency medical evacuation or other humanitarian or important government reasons.

A parent or authorised representative must complete a separate attestation for each child or for anyone who cannot complete it themselves.

Why 21 days? That is the maximum recognised incubation period for Ebola disease, the time between exposure and when symptoms can start. The outbreak in DRC is caused by Bundibugyo virus, a form of Ebola. The CDC has described it as the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, and says the overall risk to the American public and travellers remains low.

Why travellers must use official sources

There is a lot of rumour online about travel bans, tests, and vaccine certificates. This rule does not require an Ebola test or a vaccination certificate. It does not replace a visa or ESTA. Do not rely on social media posts, agents, or forwarded messages.

Travellers, Africans and the diaspora especially, should check only the CDC website, the US Federal Register, and their airline before travel. Airlines are now building the form into check-in, but rules can be amended, extended, or ended early. The current order is scheduled to run until 11:59 p.m. EST on December 18, 2026, unless it is changed.

Date checked: November 9, 2026. Please confirm before you travel, because rules can change at short notice.