The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has implemented a new policy requiring U.S. citizens returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to spend 21 days in a third country before entering the United States. The measure follows an Ebola outbreak in the DRC linked to the Bundibugyo strain, which has resulted in 2,073 confirmed cases and 796 deaths. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated the policy aims to reduce the risk of importing the virus, though the CDC maintains that the current risk to the American public remains low.
Franklin Graham, CEO of the relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, stated on Wednesday that the mandate will hinder humanitarian efforts and likely force a scale-back of operations. Graham noted that the organization currently has approximately 80 U.S. responders at treatment centers in Bunia and Nyankunde. He argued that the additional 21-day quarantine requirement will complicate the recruitment of healthcare volunteers, who often take temporary leave from U.S. jobs, and will increase operational costs.
The new policy replaces a previous system where travelers from affected areas were permitted to enter the U.S. through specific airports for health screenings. While the CDC noted that humanitarian exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis, former agency officials described the use of a "do-not-board" policy for U.S. citizens as unprecedented in this context. The restrictions also extend to certain travelers from Uganda and South Sudan.