The United States has started routing travelers who recently visited countries affected by the Ebola outbreak to a single airport near Washington for health screening, officials told AFP on Thursday. The rule applies to people who were in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda or South Sudan within the last 21 days.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said affected travelers must now enter the US through Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The order was issued by US Customs and Border Protection and applies to flights departing after 11:59 pm on May 20.
According to the CDC, airlines will contact passengers traveling from the affected countries and rebook them through Dulles airport if needed.
At the airport, travelers will go through enhanced screening. Officials will ask questions about travel history, check temperatures and observe passengers for signs of illness. Travelers will also have to provide contact tracing details.
The CDC said passengers without symptoms will be allowed to continue to their final destinations. They will also receive guidance on monitoring symptoms after arrival.
Virginia’s department of health said it is in “active communication” with federal agencies and added that the “risk to the general public remains very low.”
The screening rule applies to US citizens, US nationals and lawful permanent residents. The US had already restricted entry for non-US passport holders who recently traveled to the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak an international emergency. The agency said the risk remains high in the DRC and nearby regions, but described the risk of a global pandemic as “low.”
