International travelers heading to the United States will soon need to complete an additional health declaration before boarding, including Americans returning home.

The requirement begins for flights departing at or after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 3, 2026—equivalent to 4:59 a.m. UTC on November 4. Travelers must confirm that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the preceding 21 days.

The measure comes as health authorities respond to an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus.

Check your recent itinerary carefully.

A brief connection in the DRC can affect eligibility. Under the CDC’s rules, an airport stop counts as presence in the country even when a traveler stays aboard the aircraft.

The waiting period uses calendar days. Departure from the DRC is day zero, followed by 21 days outside the country. Boarding a US-bound flight is permitted from day 22, subject to other applicable requirements.

Who needs to complete the declaration?

The requirement covers US citizens, US nationals, and lawful permanent residents, as well as other international passengers. Crew members are also included, and the rule applies when passengers connect through the United States on their way elsewhere. Limited government-authorized exemptions are available.

A parent or another authorized representative may complete the declaration for a child under 18. Each traveler must have an individual attestation recorded, although an authorized representative may act for others in their traveling party. Airlines can collect declarations electronically or on paper and must retain copies for at least 42 days.

Missing declarations and false statements have different consequences.

Without a completed declaration or an applicable exemption, a traveler will be denied boarding.

The CDC also warns that knowingly and willfully providing false information can lead to prosecution, with possible fines and imprisonment under federal law. Travelers should check how their airline collects the declaration before departure.

What health officials say about the outbreak

The CDC’s October 30 update reported 10,305 confirmed cases and 4,996 confirmed deaths across affected countries as of October 28. Most were in the DRC, and the agency described the outbreak as the second-largest recorded.

Although cases had also been recorded in Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and France, the CDC reported no active cases in Uganda or France in that update. No US cases linked to the outbreak had been confirmed, and the agency continued to assess the overall risk to the American public and travelers as low.

WHO says no vaccines or specific treatments are currently approved for Bundibugyo virus disease, although candidate products are being evaluated in clinical trials.