Airlines push CDC to delay Ebola travel requirement for U.S. flights

Key Points:

• Starting November 3, all passengers on international flights to the U.S. must confirm they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within the past 21 days, per CDC requirements aimed at preventing Ebola spread.
• Airlines for America (A4A) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have criticized the new rule as too broad, rushed, and burdensome, requesting delays and exemptions for airline crew and military charters.
• The CDC mandates travelers complete a paper or digital health attestation before boarding, with airlines required to retain these forms for 42 days; passengers with recent DRC travel without exemptions will be denied boarding.
• Infectious disease experts emphasize the seriousness of the Ebola outbreak—the second largest in history—and support measures to prevent its entry into the U.S., noting Ebola’s high infectivity and fatality rates.
• Providing false travel information could lead to prosecution and fines, underscoring the CDC's intent to rigorously enforce the new travel screening protocol.