CDC: Enhanced Ebola Airport Screening Begins at Washington-Dulles International Airport

B3 Avian Flu Diary (Mike Coston) — zoonotic outbreak commentary · 2026-05-22 · United States · SNV

#19,171 As we discussed 3 days ago in CDC Statement on the Use of Public Health Travel Restrictions to Prevent the Introduction of Ebola Disease into the United States , we possess no technology that permits us to reliably screen presymptomatic travelers entering the United States for infectious diseases. Temperature screening and health questionnaires can help identify some infected individuals - but with incubation periods that can range from days to weeks - only a small percentage of cases will likely be detected. There are obvious advantages to identifying (and isolating ) those already showing signs of illness, as they are most likely to be infectious. But once a virus becomes sufficiently transmissible among humans, the best we can hope for is to slow the spread (see Why Airport Screening Can’t Stop MERS, Ebola or Avian Flu ). Different diseases spread at different rates, and luckily Ebola ( like Hantavirus ) requires far closer, and more prolonged, contact than highly contagious pathogens like measles or influenza. That doesn't render them incapable of international spread, but neither have shown the ability to spread like a classic pandemic virus ( with the caveat that viral evolution means that whatever we say today may not necessarily hold true tomorrow ). Yesterday the CDC announced plans to redirect returning American travelers who have recently ( within 21 days ) visited the DRC, Uganda , or South Sudan to Washington Dulles International Airport, where they will be screened for potential Ebola exposure. Those who are asymptomatic will be provided health information - and told what to do if symptoms should later appear - then allowed to proceed to their final destinations. Those who are symptomatic will be evaluated by a CDC health officer. Should conditions warrant, there is always the option of adjusting these screening protocols. The CDC's full statement follows: Enhanced Ebola Airport Screening Begins at Washington-Dulles International Airport Statement For immediate release: May 21, 2026 CDC Media Relations (404) 639-3286 On May 18, 2026, the CDC issued an Order suspending entry to the United States of foreign nationals who were in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days before arrival. U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents who were in these countries within 21 days are permitted to enter the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a Federal Register notice, available here , that outlines the redirection of these affected travelers to Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) beginning 11:59 p.m. May 20, 2026, for enhanced public health screening. CDC will conduct the enhanced public health entry screenings for these travelers and confirm their contact information for public health follow-up if recommended. Travelers that have been in the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan in the 21 days before their flight, and are scheduled to travel to the United States, while screening is taking place will be contacted by their airline to rebook travel to IAD. To date, no suspected, probable, or confirmed cases of Ebola have been reported in the United States, and the risk of Ebola domestically is low. However, public health entry screening is part of a layered approach that, when used with other public health measures already in place to detect symptomatic arriving travelers, can slow and reduce the spread of disease into the United States. How Public Health Entry Screening Works Travelers who were in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the 21 days before arriving to the United States will be escorted to an area of the airport set aside for screening. Travelers will respond to a brief questionnaire that asks about their travel history and symptoms, and collects information so the travelers can be contacted, if needed. CDC staff will observe these travelers for signs of illness and take travelers' temperatures using non-contact thermometers (thermometers that do not touch the skin). Travelers who do not have symptoms, but have been in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the past 21 days will be given information on monitoring their health and actions to take if symptoms later appear. These travelers will continue to their final destinations. Traveler contact information will be shared with state and local health departments for additional follow-up and support. If a traveler has a fever or other symptoms, the traveler will be evaluated by a CDC public health officer. CDC partners with state and local public health authorities and designated hospitals within those states to work quickly to identify and take appropriate public health actions for persons who present with symptoms of illness in the community. Working together, U.S. federal, state, and local authorities are ready to manage travelers who become ill after they reach their destinations. If a suspect case is identified, CDC will work with state/local health departments to conduct routine contact investigations to notify passengers. CDC is prepared to provide additional resources in response to this Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda. The latest information on this outbreak is available here .

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