US Keeps Ebola Entry Ban for Recent Visitors to Three African Countries

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has renewed its public health entry ban on foreign nationals who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda or South Sudan, citing the Ebola outbreak in Africa. The extension took effect at 5 pm ET on 10 November 2026 and runs for 30 days, unless the CDC changes the order before then.

Key facts

• The order covers foreign national travellers who departed from or were otherwise present in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days, regardless of their country of origin.
• It does not apply to U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals, among other narrow exceptions.
• The extension started at 5 pm ET on 10 November 2026 and lasts 30 days.
• Since 3 November 2026, every passenger boarding an international flight to the United States must sign a statement that they were not in the DRC in the previous 21 days.
• The original ban was issued in May 2026 and has been repeatedly extended and expanded.

Who is affected by the entry ban?

The extended order applies to foreign national travellers who have left from or been present in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan at any point in the past 21 days. Their country of origin does not matter. The CDC order does not apply to U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals, among other narrow exceptions.

The CDC notes that the ban has been expanded since it was first introduced. It originally did not cover U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. lawful permanent residents, but the restrictions now include lawful permanent residents and some U.S. citizens and nationals.

What rules apply to U.S. citizens?

Guidance published on the CDC website sets out restrictions for U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals that go beyond the extension order itself. U.S. citizens and nationals who have been in the DRC within 21 days before departure are not permitted to board commercial flights to the United States.

Those who have been in Uganda or South Sudan — and not in the DRC — within 21 days of arriving in the United States must enter only through designated airports for enhanced screening. The guidance does not name which airports are designated.

What must all passengers do?

As of 3 November 2026, every passenger boarding an international flight to the United States, wherever the journey begins, must attest — that is, sign a statement — that they have not been present in the DRC during the 21 days before their flight.

Why is this happening?

The CDC first issued the public health entry ban in May 2026 in response to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. It has been continually extended since then.

What this means for travellers

Foreign nationals planning travel to the United States should check whether they have been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days, as that presence triggers the entry ban. All passengers on flights to the United States should be prepared to complete the attestation about DRC presence, and U.S. citizens and nationals who have been in Uganda or South Sudan should confirm which airports are designated for enhanced screening before booking.

The current order expires after 30 days unless the CDC amends it first. Given that the situation and the restrictions are evolving, travellers should review the latest CDC guidance before finalising travel plans.