Travelers returning to the US from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan are now being required to land at Washington Dulles International Airport for enhanced public health screening.
The directive comes from the Department of Homeland Security as a response to an Ebola outbreak in the region. Flights departing after 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 20 are affected, and the order remains in effect until further notice.
The outbreak was confirmed on May 15, caused by the Bundibugyo virus. Congo has reported 12 confirmed cases and 88 deaths. Uganda has imported cases, and South Sudan is considered high risk due to limited healthcare infrastructure.
The CDC reports no confirmed cases in the US as of May 19, and the overall risk to the American public remains low.
Directing all affected passengers to a single airport allows the U.S. government to focus medical and public health resources. At Dulles, officials can conduct enhanced screening and monitoring.
The rule applies to anyone who has been in Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of attempting to enter the US, regardless of nationality. Crew members and cargo-only flights are exempt.