What does the CDC's Ebola attestation mean for travelers flying to the US?

Starting tonight, every traveler flying into the US from abroad signs one more form before boarding. The CDC's order takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on November 3, 2026. It asks each person to confirm they've been outside the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the 21 days before their flight.

The form is short. The reach is wide: a family flying home from Cancún signs it, and so does an executive connecting through Miami to Bogotá. Here's what the order says, and what we'd tell travelers this week.

What does the CDC order require?

Airlines board a person on a flight to the US from a foreign country once that person presents a signed attestation, on paper or digitally. It confirms they were outside the DRC for the 21 days before boarding. The airline keeps a copy for at least 42 days and hands it to the US government on request.

The CDC first signed the order on October 22 and amended it on October 28, to make clear that crew members sign too. It's published in the Federal Register as a notice dated October 30.

Who has to sign it?

Every person on the aircraft. The order covers passengers of any nationality, US citizens included, along with crew on duty. It also covers flights that land in the US on the way to somewhere else, so a connection through a US airport counts.

The US here includes the territories. A flight from a foreign country to Puerto Rico or Guam falls under the order, for example. Domestic flights stay as they are.

A parent or authorized representative signs for anyone under 18. An adult in the same traveling party can sign for others in the group. Airline staff can help enter the details at the traveler's direction.

How does the 21-day count work?

By calendar days. Day 0 is the day the person left the DRC, and day 1 is the first full day outside it. They can board a flight to the US on day 22.

The order counts any presence in the country, by air, land or sea. A connection through an airport in the DRC counts as well, even when the traveler stays on the plane. Overflights are exempt.

How will airlines collect it?

The CDC encourages airlines to build the attestation into paperless check-in, and airlines can use a third-party app for translations. Each airline sets its own process, so the form may appear in online check-in, at the counter on paper, or both. Ask your main carriers which they use.

Airlines pushed back. IATA called the requirement "inconsistent with a risk-based approach" in a letter to the CDC. Airlines for America asked for a delay and a transition period. It said check-in systems and station training needed more time. The order kept its date.

Why is the CDC doing this now?

The outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease, a rare form of Ebola, is centered in eastern DRC and has spread to new provinces. According to the CDC's notice, the DRC had reported 9,455 confirmed cases and 4,561 deaths by October 18. The cases span eight provinces. Kenya confirmed its first imported case in early October, and had counted eight cases by October 19.

The attestation adds to the CDC's earlier entry restrictions on people who were recently in the DRC. Those stay in force.

What should agencies tell travelers this week?

Every inbound international trip through December 18 is affected, so the note goes to everyone flying home from abroad:

1. Add one line to the pre-trip email. "Your airline will ask you to sign a short health attestation at check-in before your flight to the US." Send it to returning US travelers too.
2. Tell travelers to check in online early. The form sits inside check-in, and finishing it at home saves time at the counter.
3. Brief group leads. One adult in a traveling party can sign for the group, which helps families and school trips.
4. Flag Africa itineraries. Pull any trip that touches the DRC, or connects through it, in the last 21 days before a US-bound flight. Talk to that traveler before departure, and check the CDC's current restrictions.
5. Watch for changes. The order can be amended at any time. Check the CDC's port health page before December 18 for an end or an extension.

For the wider list of entry rules to check before a trip, see our guide to checking entry requirements.

Common questions