The United States will introduce new Ebola-related travel requirements for all international air passengers from November 3, as health authorities strengthen measures against the virus.
Under the new rules, passengers travelling to the US must declare whether they have visited the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) during the previous 21 days.
The measure comes amid an Ebola outbreak affecting several African countries, including Nigeria, which recently confirmed its first case in more than a decade.
According to Reuters, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the requirement as part of efforts to prevent the virus from entering the country.
New Ebola declaration for US travellers
Beginning November 3, all passengers boarding international flights to the United States will need to complete a travel declaration.
The document will require travellers to confirm that they have not been in DR Congo during the preceding 21 days.
Passengers can submit the declaration electronically or on paper.
Airlines will be responsible for ensuring that travellers complete the required documentation before departure.
The CDC is expected to brief major American and international airlines on Friday about implementing the new procedures.
The measure expands existing screening arrangements by requiring all US-bound air passengers to provide information about their recent travel history.
Nigeria confirms first Ebola case in over a decade
The announcement follows Nigeria’s confirmation of its first Ebola infection in more than ten years.
Health authorities identified the case in a Uganda-born woman who returned to Abuja on October 3 after travelling to Uganda.
The confirmation has raised concerns about the possibility of the virus spreading between countries through international travel.
However, American authorities have not directly linked the new declaration requirement to Nigeria’s case.
The CDC’s latest measure specifically focuses on travel history involving DR Congo.
Health officials continue to monitor developments across affected African countries.
US expands existing travel restrictions
The new declaration builds on restrictions introduced earlier this year.
In May, the CDC implemented measures preventing passengers who had visited DR Congo within the previous 21 days from boarding commercial flights to the United States.
Those restrictions were extended to American citizens in July.
The US has also introduced entry restrictions affecting certain foreign nationals who recently travelled to Uganda or South Sudan.
Separate arrangements apply to US citizens and nationals returning from those countries.
These measures include additional health screening at designated American airports.
The latest declaration adds another layer of checks to the existing travel requirements.
Ebola outbreak involves Bundibugyo strain
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, one of the viruses responsible for Ebola virus disease.
Ebola can cause severe illness, including fever, weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea.
In some cases, the disease can lead to serious complications and death.
The virus spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected people, as well as contaminated materials.
It does not spread through ordinary airborne transmission in the same way as measles.
The 21-day travel history requirement reflects the maximum recognised incubation period for Ebola.
Health authorities use this period when monitoring people who may have been exposed to the virus.
CDC says risk to Americans remains low
Despite the additional precautions, the CDC has assessed the risk to the American public and international travellers as low.
As of October 20, US health authorities had not reported any domestic cases linked to the current outbreak.
Officials say the declaration requirement is intended to reduce the possibility of imported infections.
The measures also aim to help airlines identify passengers who may be subject to existing travel restrictions.
Meanwhile, public health authorities continue to monitor the outbreak and coordinate responses with international partners.
African countries strengthen outbreak monitoring
The developments highlight the importance of cross-border disease surveillance as African countries respond to Ebola infections.
International travel can complicate efforts to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed.
However, early detection, contact tracing and effective medical care remain central to controlling Ebola outbreaks.
Health authorities are also working to prevent infections from spreading into additional communities.
For now, the US has maintained that the risk to its population remains low.
Nevertheless, the new requirements mean travellers flying to the United States will face additional health-related documentation from November 3.