WASHINGTON — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) implemented new travel screening procedures for passengers arriving from Ebola-affected countries, requiring Americans who recently traveled through Uganda, South Sudan, or the Democratic Republic of Congo to enter the United States through designated airports, including Washington Dulles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, according to officials.
The policy took effect this week as the World Health Organization declared an Ebola outbreak in parts of East-Central Africa a public health emergency of international concern, with reported cases and deaths continuing to rise.
Medical student and freelance reporter Michal Ruprecht experienced the new protocol early Thursday at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda after airline staff informed him he was required to fly into Washington Dulles instead of his originally planned destination in Michigan.
Ruprecht said airline personnel showed him a memo from U.S. Customs and Border Protection informing travelers of the routing requirement. He said he rebooked his travel and complied with the directive.
Upon arrival at Washington Dulles, CDC personnel conducted a secondary screening that included temperature checks and a brief health assessment, according to Ruprecht. Officials confirmed he reported no symptoms and had no known high-risk exposure, and he was allowed to continue his travel to Michigan after the screening.
CDC officials said they will notify state health departments of arriving passengers subject to monitoring protocols. State epidemiologists will then determine the level of follow-up, which may include daily check-ins depending on exposure risk.
Virginia state epidemiologist Dr. Laurie Forlano said the monitoring system builds on procedures used in previous outbreaks but requires significant staffing and coordination.
Public health experts said the U.S. response includes entry screening and post-arrival monitoring, but emphasized that such measures are limited without broader efforts to contain outbreaks at their source.
CDC officials said they continue to deploy personnel to affected regions in East-Central Africa as part of the ongoing response.
