US Tightens Ebola Travel Rules, Blocks Passengers from DRC, Uganda and South Sudan

The United States has tightened Ebola-related travel restrictions, directing passengers denied boarding for flights to the country to seek assistance from the Department of Homeland Security.

In a notice issued by the US Embassy in Nairobi on Wednesday, affected travellers were told to contact a dedicated Department of Homeland Security help desk and provide detailed personal and travel information for officials to review their cases.

The advisory follows the Trump administration’s decision to restrict entry for people who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda or South Sudan.

Under the current rules, travellers who have been in the DRC within 21 days of their scheduled flight to the US are not permitted to board. The restriction applies even when the DRC was only a transit point. Travellers who have been in Uganda or South Sudan must also remain outside those countries for at least 21 days before attempting to travel to the US.

The embassy advised affected passengers to provide their passport details, flight information and records confirming their travel history in the restricted countries. It warned that initial replies from the help desk could be automated, but said subsequent communication would come from a verified US government email address.

US citizens who need financial assistance to change their travel plans or arrange accommodation in a third country were advised to contact the nearest US embassy or consulate. The restrictions form part of US measures to limit the potential spread of Ebola. 

As part of the response, the US government has designated Washington Dulles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and John F Kennedy International Airport in New York for enhanced screening of passengers arriving from Uganda and South Sudan.

Travellers from the DRC face stricter measures, including the boarding prohibition for those who have recently been in the country. The latest guidance combines tighter travel controls with a system for reviewing individual cases. It also provides affected passengers with a channel to seek assistance when the restrictions prevent them from boarding flights to the United States.