The United States has imposed sweeping new travel restrictions targeting passengers arriving from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan amid mounting fears over the escalating Ebola outbreak in Central and East Africa.
In an urgent directive issued on Thursday, May 21, the United States Department of State announced that all U.S.-bound American citizens and lawful permanent residents who have recently travelled through the three countries will now be required to enter the country exclusively through Washington Dulles International Airport for enhanced Ebola screening.
The measures took immediate effect and mark one of the toughest public health travel interventions introduced by the United States since renewed Ebola fears emerged in the region.
Under the directive, any traveller who has been present in Uganda, DR Congo or South Sudan within 21 days before arriving in America must undergo mandatory public health checks upon arrival at Dulles Airport.
“As of May 21, 2026, all U.S.-bound American citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who have been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival in the United States must only enter through Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) for enhanced screening,” part of the notice read.
“The Dulles requirement applies to all passengers, including U.S. citizens and LPRs, who were present in those countries,” the statement added.
The move effectively turns Dulles into the sole entry point for affected travellers, a decision expected to disrupt international travel routes and trigger flight adjustments for airlines operating between East Africa and the United States.
Travellers — including Kenya-based U.S. residents and diaspora families — have been advised to prepare for possible delays, rerouted flights and last-minute schedule changes as airlines race to comply with the new regulations.
The restrictions come as the World Health Organization intensifies efforts to contain the deadly Ebola outbreak, which has sparked growing alarm across Central and East Africa.
Health authorities fear the virus could spread further across the region, with neighbouring countries such as Kenya now on heightened alert due to increased cross-border movement and regional travel.
In response to the crisis, WHO has already dispatched more than 11 tonnes of emergency medical supplies from its Nairobi emergency hub to support outbreak response efforts in DR Congo.
The shipment includes personal protective equipment, emergency medical kits, tents, sanitation materials and critical water and hygiene supplies aimed at helping frontline health workers contain the disease.
More than 35 WHO specialists and emergency response experts have also been deployed to affected areas to strengthen disease surveillance, infection prevention, clinical care and community sensitisation programmes.
Officials say additional emergency teams are being mobilised as fears grow over the scale of the outbreak.
According to health authorities, more than 500 suspected Ebola infections have been recorded across Uganda and DR Congo, with over 130 reported deaths linked to the outbreak since the virus resurfaced in eastern Congo before spreading into neighbouring countries.
The latest U.S. measures underscore growing international anxiety that the outbreak could spiral into a wider regional health emergency if containment efforts fail.
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