Wellness, Travel & Public Health
New CDC Attestation Applies to International Flights Bound for the United States
International air travelers must attest that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the prior 21 days unless exempted.
A boarding requirement now in effect
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires people boarding an international flight to the United States to complete an attestation that they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the previous 21 days, unless the U.S. government has issued an exemption. The rule applies to flights departing abroad at or after 11:59 p.m. Eastern on November 3.
Who is covered
CDC says the amended order applies to passengers and crew, including personnel traveling on passenger or cargo aircraft and crew positioning for later duty. Presence includes transit through a DRC airport even if the traveler did not leave the airport. The attestation may be physical or authenticated digitally. Airlines must prevent boarding when a covered person does not provide it.
What airlines must do
Carriers must collect the attestation at or shortly before boarding, retain a copy for at least 42 days after arrival and provide it to the federal government on request. CDC supplies forms and technical instructions, and the Transportation Department issued a related enforcement notice. Travelers should use airline and CDC instructions rather than assume a general health form satisfies the specific order.
The public-health rationale
CDC identifies the measure as a step to reduce the risk that Ebola is introduced through air travel. The 21-day lookback corresponds to the maximum incubation period cited by the agency. CDC states that the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low. A travel attestation is a screening and compliance tool; it is not a diagnosis or a finding that a traveler was exposed.
Accuracy and changing guidance
Willfully false or misleading information can carry federal penalties, so travelers should answer carefully and seek official guidance if their itinerary is unclear. Orders can be amended as conditions change. The event date is the late-November 3 effective time; this report is published November 4. Airlines, crew and travelers should check the current CDC page before departure for exemptions, forms and updates.
Primary evidence
Reporting note: This independently composed article is based on the linked primary records. Publication and event dates are stated separately. Agency claims are identified as such; an allegation, charge or scheduled event is not presented as a finding, conviction or completed event. Readers should consult the official record for amendments and later action.