CDC makes flyers to the U.S. attest they were not in Congo
Since Nov. 3, everyone boarding a flight to the United States, crew included, must sign a statement about Ebola. Airlines can refuse to board anyone who does not.
Anyone boarding a flight to the United States now has to sign a statement that they were not in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the previous 21 days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the order on Oct. 22 because of the Ebola outbreak there, and on Oct. 28 clarified that it covers every person on every aircraft, crew included. It took effect Nov. 3.
The rule applies to all flights that leave a foreign country for the U.S. or connect through it, regardless of nationality: citizens, permanent residents and foreign nationals alike. It covers commercial, cargo, general aviation and private flights. Land crossings and seaports are exempt.
Airlines must check the statement before boarding.
Passengers who do not hand one in do not get on the plane. It can be signed on paper, with an authenticated digital signature or by ticking an electronic box, and an adult in the same group can sign for another person, as long as each passenger has an individual record. Knowingly giving false information can bring fines and prison time, the CDC warns.
How the 21 days are counted
The window matches the maximum incubation period of Ebola. It runs in calendar days: day 0 is the day the person left the DRC, and travel is allowed from day 22. A layover at a Congolese airport counts as having been in the country, even if the traveler never leaves the terminal.
Exemptions exist, but the CDC calls them rare: authorized medical transport aircraft and cases the agency approves on humanitarian grounds.
The outbreak behind the order
The goal, the CDC says, is to reduce the risk of Ebola reaching the United States by air, and the agency judges the overall risk to the American public and U.S. travelers to remain low. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 8,728 confirmed cases and 4,205 confirmed deaths in the DRC as of Oct. 6, a crude fatality rate of 48.2%. The disease is caused by Bundibugyo virus, a form of Ebola, with its epicenter in Ituri province and one confirmed imported case in Kenya.
These are surveillance figures, not results from a study with a sample. The WHO rates the risk as very high in the DRC and low globally, and advises against restricting travel or trade with affected countries.
What it means for travelers leaving Mexico
For someone flying from Mexico to the United States, nonstop or with a connection, it is one more signature at the counter or the gate. It does not replace a passport, a visa or any other requirement: it is a health measure, not an immigration procedure. The CDC order does not say how long it will stay in force, and airlines must keep each statement for at least 42 days after arrival.
The measure applies to the general public: to every person flying to the United States. It is a requirement set by a health authority for passengers and airlines, not clinical advice, and it does not replace a consultation with a health professional.
