USG to Initiate Public Health Measures to Respond to Ebola in Guinea and DRC

CDC is closely following the outbreaks of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Guinea.

The outbreaks are centered in remote areas of these countries. The risk of Ebola to the United States is extremely low. The Biden Administration is committed to working closely with the affected countries to end these outbreaks before they grow into epidemics.

Air travel has the potential to transport people, some of whom may have been exposed to a communicable disease, anywhere across the globe in less than 24 hours. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, the U.S. government will institute public health measures for the very small number of travelers arriving from DRC and Guinea.

Beginning next week, the U.S. government will funnel travelers from DRC and Guinea to six U.S. airports. Airlines will collect and transmit passenger information to CDC for public health follow-up and intervention for all passengers boarding a flight to the U.S. who were in DRC or Guinea within the previous 21 days. Passengers can expect verification of data on arrival to ensure completeness and accurateness of contact information. This information will be shared with U.S. state and local health departments to appropriately monitor arrivals in their jurisdiction.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.