The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Monday (18) a federal order suspending for 30 days the entry of certain foreign travelers, aiming to contain the risk of Ebola virus spread. The measure, coordinated with the Department of Health and Human Services, restricts the entry of any non-U.S. citizen who has departed from or been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days prior to arrival, regardless of country of origin.
The decision is based on the emergence of a new outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain in eastern DRC, which has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a public health emergency. The outbreak is estimated to have caused about 80 deaths in recent weeks. U.S. health authorities highlighted that the virus's incubation period of up to 21 days allows infected individuals to travel internationally without showing symptoms, bypassing airport controls.
The order specifically applies to foreigners with temporary status or general inadmissibility conditions, but does not affect U.S. citizens, permanent residents (Green Card holders), members of the armed forces, government employees abroad, nor their spouses and children. Despite the strictness of the measure, the CDC emphasized that the immediate risk to the U.S. population remains low.
During the 30-day validity period, the U.S. government will focus on assessing global public health risks and collaborating with African countries to strengthen epidemiological surveillance, expand diagnostic capacity, conduct contact tracing, and consolidate mitigation strategies in affected regions.